AFP apologises to Seven following Schapelle Corby raids

21st February 2014
by Jake Mitchell

The Australian Federal Police have issued an apology to Seven West Media for stating a legal representative of the broadcaster had been "reasonably suspected" of committing a crime, though the government agency described the incident as a "word processing error".

 

The AFP raided the Sydney offices of Seven on Tuesday due to speculation the network had paid 

convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby for an interview. Photo: Ben Rushton

The AFP raided the Sydney offices of Seven on Tuesday due to speculation the network had paid convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby $2 million for an interview.

Seven had been issued with a production order to hand over documents to the AFP the previous week in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act, which prevents people profiting from crimes.

The AFP obtained a search warrant from Magistrate Graeme Curran on the basis of an application that stated, among other things, to Seven lawyer Justine Munsie: "You (Ms Munsie) are reasonably suspected of having committed the offence stated in the relevant warrant.

In a letter written to Seven lawyers, obtained by The Australian Financial Review, the AFP said: "We accept that this statement was incorrect and it should not have been made."

"It is a regrettable error, but it is an innocent word-processing error. The Commissioner and the Australian Federal Police regret any hurt, embarrassment or offence which this error has caused."

Seven had threatened to launch legal action if an apology was not issued by 5pm on Friday, as well as asking the AFP to revoke the order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The AFP said it would not revoke the order and that it was obvious the agency had never suspected Ms Munsie of a crime because the only reference to any offence being committed in the search warrant was to Ms Corby's crime of drug smuggling.

"There is no reference to any offence or any suspicion of any offence having been committed in the material before Magistrate Curran in support of an application for the warrant," wrote the AFP in its letter. "In these circumstances, we do not think there can be any real suggestion that a reasonable person would think that it was alleged that Ms Munsie was suspected of having committed an offence."

Seven declined to comment while comment is being sought from the AFP.