AFP apologises to Seven for “word processing error”
Updated: Seven CEO says "We actually have not done anything wrong," after receiving an apology from the AFP.
- Published by David Knox
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The Australian Federal Police has apologised to Seven West Media following its raid this week, amid speculation Seven had a $2 million deal with Schapelle Corby.
Yesterday Seven demanded an apology by 5pm or it would commence legal action.
Fairfax reports the AFP has apologised for stating a legal representative of Seven had been “reasonably suspected” of committing a crime, describing the incident as a “word processing error”.
Seven had been issued with a production order to hand over documents the previous week in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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 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.”
But the AFP said it would not revoke the production order.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, a letter signed by Mercedes Corby and Wayan Widyartha pleading with authorities to allow an interview to take place, has been rejected.
Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin said yesterday in Jakarta: “The correctional board has rejected (the interview). She will be better if she realises that she is still an inmate who enjoys parole. And one of condition for enjoying parole is the parole could be revoked if she causes restlessness.
“We should be aware that the news about Corby has become huge. It will be better if she realises it. Her family should realise it. Don’t make the correctional board find that the condition to revoke her parole has been fulfilled because she has caused restlessness in the community.”
Updated: Seven CEO Tim Worner has released a statement today:
Comments today by the AFP confirm what we’ve known all along.
We actually have not done anything wrong.
The acknowledgement and apology are welcomed. And we await the results of the AFP’s internal investigation into their handling of this matter.
We have been subjected to raids which were a waste of public money and a charade. We have been publicly tarnished.
And it now appears the AFP confirms none of this was necessary.
Today, the AFP confirmed and stressed several times the level of co-operation it had received from Seven West Media.
Somehow, this co-operation was reciprocated with a raid on us by officers with exposed guns.
We take our role as a media company seriously. We will pursue news.
We can confirm that reports of $2 million or $3 million offers for an interview with Schapelle Corby are complete and utter baloney. It is a falsehood. There is no deal now and there has never been any such deal.
17 Responses
Sunday Night got stucj into the AFP at the end of the episode. The host said something along the lines of “I hope I never get to see this kind of thing again”.
IMO, it took away from an excellent episode about INXS.
Word processing error, did they use predictive text on a smartphone?
For me, @Pertinax proffers the most interesting observation here. If the AFP really did seek a warrant containing no element of fact, and that warrant was granted by a judge complete with a ‘typo’ that crept in from an old warrant that the AFP had drawn up, then Seven has every right to seek compensation – and should.
It may be understandable (albeit regrettable) for an old clause to creep into a document at a small legal firm down the road, but the Australian Federal Police? Come on! That is reprehensible.
Kerry Stokes did not win his C7 case, but, my goodness, he would benefit handsomely if this ever got to the courts.
Hey Channel 7 there is a new ‘innocent’ female in prison in Bali to chase so you can now leave Schapelle alone.
@chivasssimo – The whole point is that the warrant claimed Seven had broken the law. They hadn’t. They couldn’t. They didn’t receive anything under the Proceeds of Crimes Act. If they had paid Corby, which they hadn’t, they still would have not broken the law. It’s not a crime to pay a crim for a story. Ask ACA. Even if they had found a signed contract with Corby, so what? No crime committed by Seven.
Did Wormer not watch the press conference?
AFP officer always carry guns. The Raid was not heavy handed and there was no apology for doing the raid as he explained in detail.
How embarrassment.
@chivasssimo – I can’t believe I’m going to take Seven’s side but they have every right to be upset over false allegations, especially when the Keystone Cops have so publicly been stomping all over their offices in their size 9½’s.
Seven and their legal representatives aren’t above the law but they have the same rights as the rest of us and they’re entitled to the same rules of behaviour regarding presumption of innocence, fair and even-handed treatment before the law, and not to be charged (and already found guilty by some) on mere hearsay.
The only egg on Seven’s faces is splatter from the large cheese omelette that the AFP smashed their own faces into. So, no Chumpy but plenty of chumps.
Woah, back off Ch 7. Since when were you above the law? And also, since when did the media dictate everything in this country?
Channel 7 are the ones with egg on their face after watching that press conference this morning.
I wonder how many comments this thread will have as compared to the one where people where sticking the boot into 7.
After their fishing expedition turns up nothing the AFP puts out a press release falsely claiming that it did and expecting Seven to be to intimidated to correct them.
Now they are claiming that allegation, which they swore before a judge was true to get the warrant for the fishing expedition, had no basis in fact but was just a typo?
Anyone silly enough to believe that. It is perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Inspector Clouseau of the AFP spent half an hour on 7 and ABC24 this morning explaining how his “search warrant” was wrong. Channel 7 could not commit a crime even if they did pay Corby, and how the work experience girl forgot to delete a clause from an old warrant she was over-typing for Seven. “It is a regrettable…word-processing error”.
Arrest that computer.
I really hope the sister of the drug mule keeps pushing and the Indonesian system end up putting the drug mule back in jail until the end of her sentence. They seem to have a complete disregard for the legal system from the carrying the drugs into the country in the first place right through until now.
‘Reasonably suspected’. Translation: ch9 said you did it.
What a colossal cock-up from the AFP. Good that they have apologised but the apology is full of spin. So many similar incidents have gone past without the AFP taking notice, the only difference here was the high public profile. It was all a publicity stunt from the AFP but 7 are clearly much better at playing that game.
Knew the AFP would end up with egg all over their face, talk about being bullies, they think they have the power to do just what they like and that no one can touch them, gives the rest of the Police force a bad name because of people like these, great to see them brought down a peg or two, will channel 9 still keep insinuating that the Corby family are being paid three million dollars, looks like they have some egg on their faces too.
I just don’t get Corby and her mental family. Why make such a big deal about an interview, seriously guys choose the interview or life back in jail the choice is pretty simple. Just be thankful you’re out of prison and get in with enjoying your freedom.