CONSTABLE ACCUSED OF CANNABIS BRIBES

TWO officers were equipped with their guns, handcuffs and capsicum
spray when they stole cannabis crops with a street value of $75,000,
a court heard yesterday.

One of the officers, a constable, then blackmailed the owner of the
crops to pay him or face criminal charges, the County Court was
told. Prosecutor Michael Hennessy said the constable received $8000
from the owner of the crops in February.

The allegations were heard yesterday at the plea hearing for a
police informer who had told the constable about the location of the crops.

The constable, who will contest the allegations in court later this
year, was also accused of threatening a man whom he believed had
stolen the crops. He told the man he would kill his family unless he
received $35,000, the court heard.

The informer pleaded guilty to six charges yesterday, including
trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence, handling stolen
goods and assaulting a man while pretending to be a police officer.

Mr Hennessy said the crops had a street value of between $46,385 and
$74,536, with the proceeds to be split between the informer and the
two officers.

Danny Holding, for the informer, said his client had "divorced
himself" from a life of crime and an addiction to drugs and had
helped internal police investigators.

"He was a person who was following the instructions of (the
constable) and being told what to do," Mr Holding said. "It was not
a relationship of complete trust."

Mr Holding said the constable had befriended the informer, telling
him on one occasion: "If you f--k with me, I'll shoot you."

He said it was in the public interest that police officers found to
be corrupt were brought to justice.

"He's playing a significant role in that," Mr Holding said.

An ethical standards detective said the informer had been "very
co-operative", having worn a listening device to secretly record two
conversations with the constable. He had made statements and an
undertaking to give evidence.

Detective acting Senior Sergeant Neil Smyth told the court the
informer's safety was of "grave concern" to police. He said the
constable, who is in custody, knew where the informer lived.

The constable is awaiting a committal hearing in the Melbourne
Magistrates Court. He is charged with 13 offences, including
burglary, blackmail, and the theft, cultivation and trafficking of
cannabis plants.

Judge David Morrow extended the informer's bail until sentencing at
a later date.