OFFER TO NAIL ROGUE OFFICER

ETHICAL Standards Department police are believed to have offered a
Melbourne criminal $100,000 and a place on the witness protection
scheme in return for giving evidence against a Victorian detective.A
senior ESD police source said yesterday investigators had also offered
the underworld figure indemnity from prosecution on condition he gives
sworn statements and evidence in court against the allegedly corrupt
detective.

The detective at the centre of the investigation is one of several
officers alleged to be involved in corruption by a Melbourne drug
baron earlier this year.

The drug baron, Peter Pilarinos, was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in
prison in May after he pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and bribing
police.

While awaiting sentence, Pilarinos gave National Crime Authority
investigators a 25-page signed statement in which he detailed
allegations of police corruption.

The statement included a list of police officers who Pilarinos claimed
were corrupt. It also included allegations of links to criminal
activity in Victoria and NSW.

The Sunday Herald Sun has learned Pilarinos has since provided NCA and
ESD investigators with more information.

But he has refused to name criminals linked

to the corruption allegations.

The detectives named by Pilarinos as being corrupt were based at
several Victorian criminal investigation units.

The $100,000 ESD offer relates to a long-serving police officer who is
one of several inner-city detectives under investigation.

The detective is on extended sick-leave.

The corruption allega tions also follow claims by former drug squad
detective Sharon Stone that police officers were paid $250,000 to
steal documents and information on the whereabouts of a witness in a
long-running drug inquiry.

Ms Stone said two separate underworld sources had claimed police
arranged the break-in on the 12th floor of the drug squad's
headquarters on St Kilda Rd in 1996.

The witness, codenamed E2-92, was due to testify in a case against
against another drug baron.

E2-92 and his family were moved overseas, but had to be moved again
after his new identity and location were disclosed.

Police deputy media director Kevin Loomes said last night it was
inappropriate for police to comment on the issue.

"The Witness Protection Act forbids us from making any comment that
could lead to the identification of any person involved in the
program," he said.