Police four accused over cannabis snatch

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By ELISSA HUNT, Magistrates' Court reporter

February 05, 2003

 

FOUR detectives were charged yesterday with drug trafficking in the latest

corruption claim to hit Victoria Police.

 

 

Drug charges: from left are Det-Sgt Glenn Saunders,

 

Sen-Det Peter Alexander, Sen-Det Stephen Campbell, and former Det-Sgt David Waters.

Picture: John Hart

The four

policemen, including two detective sergeants, were all based at St Kilda.

 

They are accused of trafficking $100,000 worth of cannabis.

 

Charged are Det- Sgt David John Waters, 42, who was discharged last month, and serving officers Det-Sgt Glenn Saunders, 33, Sen-Det Peter John Alexander, 36, and Sen-Det Stephen Russell Campbell, 34.

 

They have been suspended from active duty.

 

A fifth man, Nicholas Ibrahim, 33, is also charged over the alleged drug deal.

 

Det Sen-Sgt George Tapai, from the ethical standards division, alleged in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday the trafficking occurred on May 10, 1999.

 

Det Sen-Sgt Tapai said Det-Sgt Saunders had "an association" with Mr Ibrahim, who had arranged to buy 13.6kg of cannabis from another person.

 

Mr Ibrahim had agreed to buy the drugs for $100,000, the court heard.

 

He allegedly arranged to meet the unnamed person at the St Kilda Marina for the deal.

 

Det Sen-Sgt Tapai said Mr Ibrahim then told Det-Sgt Saunders about the plan.

 

Det-Sgt Saunders and the three other officers allegedly intercepted the car carrying the drugs and seized cannabis in rubbish bags.

 

It is alleged the detectives then gave the drugs to Mr Ibrahim.

 

No arrests were made and the officers charged no one, the court heard.

 

Det Sen-Sgt Tapai said evidence against the officers included witnesses and telephone intercepts.

 

Tony Hargreaves, for the four policemen, said his clients were all long- serving members, one with more than 20 years service.

 

They had known of the allegations for a long time and when interviewed had denied any wrongdoing, Mr Hargreaves said.

 

The court heard one witness was a confessed drug trafficker who could be indemnified from prosecution.

 

Alex Lewenberg, for Mr Ibrahim, said his client was a self-employed builder.

 

Det Sen-Sgt Tapai said he did not oppose bail for the five men.

 

Magistrate Barbara Cotterell granted the officers bail, saying they were not a risk of fleeing.

 

Ms Cotterell also granted Mr Ibrahim bail.

 

Det-Sgt Waters was discharged last month after stress or sick leave.

 

Det-Sgt Saunders was suspended last April and the other officers were suspended yesterday.

 

The court suppressed the five men's addresses.

 

Each faces charges of theft, drug possession, trafficking a drug, conspiring to traffick and conspiring to steal.

 

Mr Ibrahim faces an extra charge of trafficking cannabis.

 

All five are due to return to court on March 25.

 

Police spokesman Kevin Loomes said the charges were not related to a probe into corruption in the drug squad, Operation Ceja.

 

That investigation has already delayed several major drug cases.

 

Herald Sun

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