TNAG-0816-FCO40-1022-Police-corruption-Independent-Commission-Against-Corruption--1978 — Page 217

A

GR 975

1: HKA 412/343/2.

75

laformes

PR ITY Parc()

CYPHER/CAT A

HKK 382 2

S

◄

CONFIDENTIAL A

AKA 412/393/2

RECEIVED 3 SERY NO. 51 3 1 JAN 1978

DESK OFFICE!

FM HONG KONG 300437Z

INDEX

*

CONFIDENTIAL N

PA

IGISTRY

Action Taxen

MT

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.118 OF 130 JANUARY 78.

16:

Dscmpt to Vailetta for sps' party

YAUMATEI CORRUPTION CASE.

18 (19

FL

JM1

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 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.

CONFIDENTIAL

16.