OFFICER ASSISTED DRUG BOSS

A disgruntled police officer who gave keys for a chemical storage facility
to a drug boss, snapped under the pressures of the job, his defence counsel
told the Supreme Court.

Kevin John Hicks, once the longest serving members of Victoria's major crime
squad, was a vital link for amphetamine trafficker Peter Pilarinos, who paid
thousands of dollars in kickbacks for access to drug tip-offs on
investigations.

Hicks, 45, of Lima East, near Benalla, pleaded guilty this month to one
charge of bribery, one count of theft and two counts of burglary. The
offences occurred from 21 January 1992 to 15 May 1993.

A prosecution summary stated Pilarinos used the copied keys to enter a
compound to steal chemicals. An investigation into Pilarinos' activities was
abandoned after Hicks warned the gang.

In defence Mr Joe Gullaci said Hicks was upset at being transferred from the
major crime squad in 1992 to a the drug squad because of poor performance.
He said the major crime squad dealt with Victoria's "hardest professional
criminals" in a culture of hard drinking and that Hicks lived on past
exploits, which included Hoddle Street shooting investigations.