Arrested officer 'used his elite role'

On 4 June 2008 Ashleigh Wilson of
The Australian reported “Arrested officer 'used his elite role'”.

Image ABC: Mark Standen

It was said that Mark Standen has been accused of using "privileged information" in his role as an elite NSW crime investigator to traffic a commercial amount of illegal drugs. Mr Standen, 51, was said to have been surprised by the dramatic developments on Monday, when he was arrested and charged over his alleged role in a drug importation ring. The NSW Crime Commission investigator remained in the cells beneath Sydney's Central Local Court yesterday and did not apply for bail when his case came before magistrate Allan Moore.

Bakhos Jalalaty Source: The Daily Telegraph

He was charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled precursor, and conspiracy to supply 600kg of pseudoephedrine. He was also charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice by using "privileged information" in relation to the judicial power of the commonwealth. His alleged co-conspirator, Bakhos Jalalaty, 45, faces the same three charges and will return to court on June 30.

But ahead of a planned bail application next Wednesday, Mr Standen's lawyer Paul King called on senior police figures to avoid making what he described as "prejudicial" comments about the case in public. "I would hope that these people would refrain from making comments and remind everybody that at this particular time he has a presumption of innocence," Mr King said outside the court. "He is entitled to be dealt with in the criminal justice system exactly the same way as anyone else." Mr King thanked the state's Department of Corrective Services for giving Mr Standen additional protection following his arrest, saying it was "common knowledge" that his client's life would be in danger in jail. "As I understand it, he's being looked after and that's all I can ask for," said Mr King, who admitted he did not personally know where his client was being held.

He said he understood Mr Standen's family was finding the case difficult to bear, while the senior officer himself was "coping". "He's obviously stressed and upset about the whole thing," Mr King said. "I think it's all taken him by surprise." The Australian Federal Police said the maximum penalty for conspiracy to supply a commercial drug was life imprisonment and/or a $660,000 fine, while conspiracy to import a border-controlled precursor attracted 25 years' jail and/or a $550,000 fine. The maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice was five years' imprisonment.