A former Australian Protective Services whistleblower who died in his flat - soon after complaining of being beaten up by police - believed that senior Federal Government officials were afraid of him "because of what I know and have exposed".
A coroner's inquest has been ordered into the recent death of Gary Lee-Rogers, who claimed to have been persecuted after complaining about an APS superior officer.
Mr Lee-Rogers was found dead in his Queanbeyan flat on October 1. An initial medical examination indicated he might have died of a ruptured ulcer. On September 26 this year, Mr Lee-Rogers had returned to his Charles Street home and told his landlady he had been beaten up. The landlady said it was apparent he had been injured. According to Mr Lee-Rogers' former de facto wife, Kathleen Mills, he had told his landlady that he had been assaulted by federal police. Ms Mills said the landlady was afraid to disclose the information.
On April 4, 2000, after making a complaint about being persecuted, federal police had charged Mr Lee-Rogers with a series of criminal offences, including two counts of unlawful removal, 11 counts of utter and another of fraud.
Mr Lee-Rogers maintained the charges were false and had been delivered as "payback". In October last year, in a statement intended for the media and obtained by the Herald, Mr Lee-Rogers had said he was worn out by harassment. "I have no money (bankrupted) ...
I am ill, my personal life has been destroyed, doors slam in my face and I've found the Government will not help. I believe it's crucial I continue to speak out and describe what happens to officers like me when exposing large-scale corruption within the APS."
In August/September 1999, he had written a "detailed and extensive report" on what he saw as weaknesses within the operations of the APS. The report had been received "enthusiastically" by the APS hierarchy but he had then run into conflict with some individuals in the organisation.
In November 1999, he had reported an alleged assault within the APS and in January 2000 offered further information on irregularities. But he had then been subjected to a campaign of "blatant slander" and rumour-mongering, directed also against an officer who had backed him up. Shortly after Mr Lee-Rogers' death, NSW police started an inquiry. Pathologists have been engaged from Victoria and toxicology tests assigned to the Australian Capital Territory.
The Queanbeyan coroner, Peter Leonarduzzi, has indicated the pathology results will be ready in two to three months. A lawyer for Mr Lee-Rogers' family, Dominic Velcic, says the delay is unacceptable given the assault allegation.
"I also asked the coroner about the toxicology tests being done in the ACT when the allegations might involve the Australian Federal Police," he said. "I said, 'Don't you think it is a little inappropriate?"'
Michael Kennedy, a former police officer and now an academic with the University of Western Sydney, told the Herald he had given advice to Mr Lee-Rogers. "The APS told him that if he did not shut up, there would be more charges," Mr Kennedy said.
An APS spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate for us to make comment because it is a matter for the NSW Police and the coroner."
