EX-COP ACCUSED OVER DRUGS

A policeman stole a crop of cannabis plants before accepting an $8000
bribe not to charge the owner, a court heard yesterday.

Matthew Johnson, 32, a former constable, faced Melbourne Magistrates'
Court yesterday, charged with 13 offences including burglary,
blackmail and drug trafficking. The court heard Mr Johnson went to a
Thomastown house in February after a tip-off from an informer.

A crop of 18 plants was discovered in two bedrooms of the house and
the owner allegedly packed it into bags supplied by Mr Johnson and the
drugs were loaded into his police car.

A witness who cannot be identified said the crop owner, who didn't
understand English, kept nodding and smiling at Mr Johnson.

"He kept saying, 'Shss', and nodding to be quiet with his finger over
his lips," documents tendered in court said. "He kept saying, 'I'll
give you money'."

The court heard Mr Johnson then followed the crop's owner to an
unoccupied rural property where the six bags of drugs were stashed in
a shed.

Mr Johnson allegedly met the drug grower again later to collect $8000
to ensure the matter would not go to court.

But a man who accompanied Mr Johnson to the roadside meeting said
yesterday he never saw any money change hands.

The stashed drugs were accidentally uncovered by the owner of the
country property, who called police.

The preliminary hearing before magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg was to
continue.