Networked Knowledge - Media Report

This version of the report has been prepared by: Dr Robert N Moles
Underlining where it occurs is for editorial emphasis]

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On 25 September 2008 Verity Edwards of The Australian reported “Roger Rogerson favour humiliates ex-cop”.

She said an association with ex NSW detective Roger Rogerson has left a former colleague humiliated and embarrassed, after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully operating a computer to pass on restricted information. The South Australian District Court heard this morning that David Lawrence Mullen, 55, received a phone call from Mr Rogerson in 2002, calling in a favour to find the address of a man facing charges before a NSW civil court. Mr Rogerson wanted the information to pass on to a Process Server and Justice of the Peace, to enable him to bring a South Australian man to justice.

Former deputy superintendent Ron Champness, who was a friend of Mr Rogerson, had also phoned Mullen to call in the same favour. Mullen, a former detective who served in the drug and fraud squad in the early 1980s before studying part-time for a law degree, thought nothing of the favour. He asked a police officer with a lower rank to help. ``You were unable to obtain that information and that is the basis of the charge,'' Judge Barry Beazley told the court during sentencing. ``However... you enlisted the help of another police officer who did access the computer system.''

The court heard Mullen was investigated over the incident, leading to his resignation from the force in 2004. He was formally charged with abuse of public office, which was due to go to trial on Monday. The charges were dropped when Mullen pleaded guilty to unlawfully operating a computer. ``You have suffered humiliation, much over the last six years,'' Judge Beazley said. Despite noting that a conviction for accessing a restricting system would serve as a deterrent for police officers, Judge Beazley did not record a conviction against Mullen. He will instead be subject to a $500 good behaviour bond.

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