CR 975
RIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
:...
FM HONG KONG 300437Z
CONFIDENTIAL
AKA 435393/6
KILLED IN REGSIPY NO. 51 3 1 JAN 1978
·FFICER
PEGISTRY
JADEX
PA
[Action Taken
No
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F.C.0 TELNO.118 OF 30 JANUARY 787 LAST
YAUMATEI CORRUPTION CASE.
REF
NEXT
REF.
342
1. THIS TELEGRAM IS TO SET OUT THE POSITION NOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS RETURNED FROM THE U.K.
2. THE CASE INCLUDES ABOUT ONE HUNDRED POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN INTERDICTED FROM DUTY, FOR THE MOST PART SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER, PLUS ANOTHER SEVENTY TO EIGHTY WHO HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED (AND ARE THUS EXCLUDED FROM THE AMNESTY) BUT HAVE NOT BEEN INTERDICTED FROM DUTY.
3. THE NUMBERS ARE MADE UP OF SEVERAL SMALL GROUPS OF ANYTHING UP
AGAINST MANY THERE IS SUFFICIENT TO TEN, PLUS SOME INDIVIDUALS. EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY A PROSECUTION, THOUGH MUCH OF IT COMES FROM THE SAME RATHER UNSATISFACTORY WITNESSES, SOME CF WHOM ARE SERVING LONG TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING.
4. THESE WITNESSES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LONG AND HOSTILE CROSS- EXAMINATION IN ANY TRIAL. HOW MANY TIMES THESE WITNESSES WOULD
CREDIBILITY BE WILLING TO GIVE EVIDENCE, AND HOW LONG THEIR WILL LAST, IS A MATTER OF DOUBT THOUGH THEY SEEM TO BE WILLING TO APPEAR IN THE TRIALS OF AT LEAST ONE GROUP AND PERHAPS MORE.
5. ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTS OF ICAC'S LARGE SCALE ARREST AND INTERVIEW ACTION LAST SEPTEMBER WAS TO FIND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO BIND AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THE GROUPS INTO ONE LARGE CONSPIRACY. IN THE EVENT, SUFFICIENT LINKING EVIDENCE HAS NOT
BEEN OBTAINED.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.