TNAG-0713-FCO40-908-Colonial-Regulations-policy-on-disciplinary-procedures-1978 — Page 81

1;

00 VALLETTA

GR 1000A

CYPHER CAT A

FM F C O 301615Z

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE VALLETTA (FOR S OF S PARTY) TELNO 51 OF 30/1/78.

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF PRIVATE OFFICE WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 118 OF 30 JANUARY 1978. BEGINS:

YAUMATE! CORRUPTION CASE.

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, PLUSE 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 TO TEN, PLUS SOME INDIVIDUALS. AGAINST MANY THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY A PROSECUTION, THOUGH MUCH OF IT COMES FROM THE SAME RATHER UNSATISFACTORY WITNESSES, SOME OF 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 BE WILLING TO GIVE EVIDENCE, AND HOW LONG THEIR CREDIBILITY 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.