SERIOUS questions have been raised by a police watchdog decision not to investigate claims a top officer and former member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay secretly visited a prisoner, a parliamentary committee said.
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Mr Torbay and former Local Area Commander Superintendent David Cushway are alleged to have made an unauthorised visit in the Armidale police cells in June 2007.
Fairfax previously reported the prisoner was one of the town’s richest men, property developer Phillip Hanna, who had been charged with the attempted murder of his business partner.
Within hours of his arrest, Supt Cushway – who was on sick leave – and the local MP reportedly met with Mr Hanna in the cells. It was not recorded, allegedly at the request of the senior officer.
The matter was raised in April before a parliamentary committee that’s currently looking into the NSW Police Integrity Commission’s (PIC) performance and reporting standards.
“The PIC has confirmed that it received allegations concerning the former speaker and Superintendent Cushway from a serving police officer,” committee chairwoman Catherine Cusack said in a statement yesterday.
“(It) determined that it would not investigate the matter, which was referred to the NSW Police as an anonymous complaint.”
Ms Cusack said the committee was of the opinion that police officers were uniquely placed to observe and report corruption and serious misconduct involving other police officers.
“Historically, their capacity to do so has been critical to the detection and investigation of such conduct,” she said.
“It appears to the committee that the information it has received from the PIC raises serious questions about how complaints made by police officers against other police officers are managed, especially in cases where those allegations concern superior officers.”
Ms Cusack referred the matter to the PIC inspector – an independent statutory officer – to consider whether any further attention is necessary.
This comes weeks after allegations were made about Mr Torbay and Mr Cushway’s business dealings.
Mr Cushway wrote to a sister publication of The Northern Daily Leader that he would vigorously defend his integrity.
Mr Torbay is already under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
In March, The Nationals asked Mr Torbay to step down as their candidate for the federal seat of New England after receiving information it later referred to the corruption watchdog.
Mr Torbay quit NSW Parliament the next day.
The by-election caused by his resignation will be held on Saturday.
