NSW: Police officers suspended from force for corrupt conduct
By Belinda Cranston and Katelyn John17 Feb 2009 6:41 PM
SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - Two Sydney police officers have been suspended without pay after admitting they pocketed thousands of dollars from an extortion racket involving raids targeting drugs and illegally imported tobacco.
The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) is investigating the conduct of two Liverpool detectives, Nasser Battal and a second man, codenamed LP1, who have admitted to extorting money from Sydney tobacconists in 2008.
On Tuesday, LP1 told the hearing that in late 2008 he and Battal also staged raids on vehicles carrying drugs in Sydney's southwest on three separate occasions.
LP1 maintained they seized packages of white powder that were passed to a third party - a Mr Hizaji, who had advised them of the location of the drug dealers.
Mr Hizaji in turn paid the officers $5,000 each on at least two of the three occasions, the PIC was told.
One of the packages was described by LP1 as being the size of a rugby ball.
However, Battal told the hearing he could not recall "handing anything to Mr Hizaji".
"The only time I met up with him was for coffee or for dinner," he said.
Battal's lawyer Greg Walsh had earlier requested permission for his client to leave the hearing due to his "state of ill health".
"I've spoken to his treating psychologist," Mr Walsh explained.
"He said he was complaining of pain to his chest and was sweating profusely."
Commissioner John Pritchard denied the request.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione suspended both officers without pay.
"The two officers (have been) involved in very serious criminal activity," Mr Scipione told reporters on Tuesday morning.
"Based on the admissions that have been made, and as of this morning, I've directed those two officers be suspended without pay."
The men are to be served with a loss of confidence notice that will likely lead to their sacking.
"We will await the outcome of the PIC inquiry to go further," Mr Scipione said.
He added he felt the officers had let down their colleagues and the people of NSW.
"To say I'm disappointed is probably an understatement, but I think there's about 15,000 others that are very disappointed as well," he said.
