Banquo's Ghost?

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21 Apr 2005 - Coroner regrets link to Corby case

Coroner regrets links to Corby case

By Malcolm Brown
April 21, 2005, Sydney Morning Herald

A coroner appealed to supporters of accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby yesterday not to raise her hopes on the basis of an inquest she was conducting into the death of a former member of the Australian Protective Service.

Jacqueline Milledge, senior deputy state coroner, said it was most regrettable that Whistleblowers Australia had sent information to Corby's lawyers in Bali on what the former service officer, Garry Lee-Rogers, had said about security at Sydney Airport.

According to evidence before Ms Milledge, Mr Lee-Rogers, found dead in his Queanbeyan flat on October 1, 2002, sent an email, apparently about a year before his death, to a member of the whistleblowers organisation.

It said: "Today [Tuesday] at 1400 hours I received an anonymous phone call saying that I had 'tripped' over evidence of drug importation through Sydney Airport involving the old Commonwealth Police Network."

Mr Lee-Rogers, who claimed that he was being persecuted, maliciously prosecuted and physically threatened after reporting deficiencies in the service, named two police officers.

Sitting in Queanbeyan Coroner's Court, Ms Milledge said there was no evidence to back up claims that Mr Lee-Rogers had blown the whistle on security problems or drug smuggling at Sydney Airport. The only basis for saying he was involved was what he claimed to have been an anonymous phone call.

Ms Milledge said: "Whether [Corby] was involved in the importation of drugs or not, her health is at serious risk."

Late yesterday, lawyers for Corby said she would be well enough to face court today when Indonesian prosecutors are expected to demand a sentence of life imprisonment if she is found guilty of drug smuggling.

17 Apr 2005 - New evidence given to Corby's lawyers

New evidence given to Corby's lawyers

April 17, 2005 - 5:24AM

Sydney Morning Herald

A note by a security official who died mysteriously after alleging drug-running at Sydney Airport has been delivered to lawyers for Schapelle Corby, according to a Sunday newspaper.

The Sunday Telegraph says the lawyers claim the note is evidence supporting Corby's plea that she is an innocent victim of criminal networks using airports for drug trafficking.

Corby, 27, is being held in a Bali jail awaiting the outcome of her trial on charges that she smuggled 4.1kg of marijuana into Denpasar airport last October.

She denies the charges, which could attract the death penalty, and claims the drugs were planted in her unlocked body-board bag, possibly by a baggage handler involved in an Australian drug ring.

The note's author, former Australian Protective Services officer Gary Lee-Rogers, was found dead in his Queanbeyan flat in October 2002.

An autopsy was unable to ascertain the cause of death, but Mr Lee-Rogers' family and whistle-blowers believe he was murdered after allegedly uncovering corruption in the APS's operations at the airport, the Sunday Telegraph says.

Lawyers for the Gold Coast beautician told the paper they intended to use this latest information in final submissions to the court.

The paper says that in emails to friends, Mr Lee-Rogers predicted he would be killed because of what he had allegedly discovered, and said his death would be covered up as a suicide.

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19 Oct 2004 - Whistleblowers death was murder, court told

Whistleblower's death was murder, court told

By John Garnaut, October 19, 2004, Sydney Morning Herald

Gary Lee-Rogers was onto something in the months before his mysterious death.

The Australian Protective Service assistant inspector blew the whistle on what he said was corruption that compromised security at Sydney Airport before the 2000 Olympics.

He met the federal MP for Eden-Monaro, Gary Nairn, who contacted the then-Attorney-General, Daryl Williams. But Mr Lee-Rogers was found dead in his Queanbeyan apartment before Mr Williams could reply.

A protective service internal asset audit, disclosed yesterday in the NSW Coroner's Court in Queanbeyan, found that 47 revolvers, two rifles, six shotguns, 30 sets of handcuffs and 18 batons had disappeared from the service's custody. Firearms training systems, video cameras, X-ray equipment and 25 computers were also missing.

Other documents tendered to the court said dozens of security officers were trained by unqualified staff and that failures in asset management extended to firearms' security at Sydney Airport.

Police found Mr Lee-Rogers's body on October 1 last year in his Queanbeyan flat with a blood-stained knife, bloodied pillow and two white plastic bottles in his right hand.

Initially they secured the flat as a crime scene. But the death was later treated as natural.

In court yesterday Deborah Locke, of Whistleblowers Australia, said officers from the protective service, NSW police and Australian Federal Police were involved in intimidating Mr Lee-Rogers and obstructed investigations into his death.

Mr Lee-Rogers was murdered to stop him giving evidence against his colleagues in subsequent court proceedings, she said.

She listed several suspects whose names were suppressed by order of the coroner.

But under questioning, Ms Locke conceded there was no clear evidence that individual officers were behind his death.

Mr Lee-Rogers had told friends, relatives, and members of Whistleblowers Australia that if he disappeared it would not be suicide.

The hearing continues today.

23 Jan 2003 - Mother wants coroner to look at whistleblower son's death

Mother wants coroner to look at whistleblower son's death By Malcolm Brown January 23 2003 Sydney Morning Herald A lawyer for the family of a former Australian Protective Services whistleblower wants a coroner's inquest into his death after it emerged that a bloodstained knife was found near his body and that he might have died of an insulin overdose. And the national president of Whistleblowers Australia, Jean Lennane, said this week that Gary Lee-Rogers was not a diabetic and she believes he might have been given a "hot shot" of insulin at knifepoint. "There was insulin found in the flat but he was not a diabetic, so why would he have had it, unless it was planted?" she said yesterday. "There was no report of a syringe having been found in the flat." Dom Velcic, a solicitor acting for Mr Lee-Rogers's mother, Aileen Leslight, said yesterday he had written to the Queanbeyan coroner, the State Coroner and the NSW Attorney-General, saying questions "need to be answered". Mr Lee-Rogers, 45, claimed to have been subjected to harassment by Australian Federal Police after he tried to expose corruption in the APS. Shortly before he died last year he claimed to have been assaulted by a federal policeman. He was facing fraud charges and was last heard of on September 26, when he complained to federal police internal affairs that he had been assaulted. His body was found five days later. Mr Velcic said an autopsy report by Michael Burke, of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, raised many questions. It said Mr Lee-Rogers had a history of alcoholism and depression and that in the previous two weeks he had attempted suicide by drinking two bottles of port and overdosing on insulin. His mother told the Herald she had no knowledge of attempted suicide. Mr Burke said in the autopsy report: "Beside the bed was a knife which appeared to have blood near the top of the blade." Mr Lee-Rogers had had no life-threatening injuries or illness. His blood showed the presence of anti-depressant medication. Mr Burke said: "One is unable to exclude an insulin overdose leading to hypoglycaemia as the cause of death. There is no evidence to suggest other persons were involved in his death." Mr Velcic said too much about the inquiry was unsatisfactory. He took exception to the fact that toxicology report was being prepared by the Federal Police, which were the subject of allegations.

16 Nov 2002 - Whistleblower warns from the grave: investigate if I'm found dead

Whistleblower warns from the grave: investigate if I'm found dead By Malcolm Brown November 16 2002 Sydney Morning Herald Australian Federal Police and NSW Police are investigating the mysterious death of an Australian Protective Service (APS) whistleblower, Gary Lee-Rogers, who claimed four months before he died that a police officer had pushed a pistol into his mouth. Mr Lee-Rogers was found dead in his Queanbeyan flat on October 1, five days after claiming to his landlady that federal police had beaten him up. According to documents obtained by the Herald, he had been in fear of his life for some time. In a May 18 email, he complained of serious harassment. "My case will call the Prime Minister and other high-profile people to answer. I am in fear of my life and make it known through the WBA [Whistleblowers Australia] if I suicide that there is someone behind my demise. "I have already had a gun placed in my mouth and WBA should know it was [name given] of the ACT police who did it. Make it known he is a corrupt police officer acting under instructions ... I am expecting an accident at any time." A coroner's inquest has been ordered into his death. Dr Jean Lennane, national president of WBA, said her organisation was calling for proper protocols for situations where people suspected of foul play were within the very organisations doing the investigation. Michael Kennedy, a former NSW police officer turned academic, said it was apparent that already certain protocols had been breached. There had been shortcomings in communication. "People are standing on ceremony saying they don't know if it has been breached," he said. "But the political nature of this required everyone to be told." The head of the homicide squad, Detective Superintendent Nick Kaldas, said the squad was aware of the case but at present the investigation was being handled by Queanbeyan detectives, who were doing it well. "Everything hangs on the cause of death being determined," he said. "If it is found that he was murdered, the investigation will be conducted to the nth degree." Beryl Janz, national media officer for the federal police, confirmed yesterday that there was an internal inquiry into the assault alleged by Mr Lee-Rogers. Mr Lee-Rogers, who had been acting assistant inspector for the APS, claimed to have become mired in bureaucratic harassment for reporting another officer for assault. In January 2000 he broadened his complaints to include more general claims of corruption and maladministration. He said that when no action was taken, he had threatened to take the matters to the Attorney-General's Department. On April 4, 2000, he was arrested and charged with a series of offences he claimed were bogus. He claimed that after that, the harassment increased, and included police officers driving past his home and pointing pistols in his direction. He found that without his knowledge, he had been subscribed to 400 internet pornography sites. He complained to the Ombudsman and as a result got a trial date for November 4 this year. "I am in fear of my life and know I will die 'accidentally' of 'my own hand' within the next few months."

4 Nov 2002 - Whistleblower died after police bashing claim

Whistleblower died after police bashing claim By Malcolm Brown November 4 2002 Sydney Morning Herald 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."