Episode 15, 11 June 2007
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| Robert Ovadia with the exclusive |
In Sydney, it's the relationship between crime reporters and police sources that's under scrutiny.
A hearing into the police handling of rape allegations has been playing the taped phone conversations of at least one senior police officer - Superintendent Adam Purcell.
And what the Commission heard along the way were phone calls that show how some journalists and some police work together.
When Channel Seven's Robert Ovadia reported this, he had detail which left his competitors behind.
And how did Robert Ovadia get his scoop about the serial offender?
Well here's the phone intercept of him talking to his source - Superintendent Adam Purcell.
The phone taps show Robert Ovadia being reminded to protect his source - with Superintendent Purcell telling him that "If anyone asks you got it off the scanner".
And later the reporter assures the policeman...
The text message mentioned by Robert Ovadia was sent to Superintendent Purcell twenty minutes before Channel 7 News went to air.
It's been suppressed by the Commission but here's what the Counsel assisting the inquiry asked about it.
Read the transcript of proceedings from Operation Mallard, 1st June, 2007.
And then less than a minute after he sent that text message Robert Ovadia rang the Superintendent - on the same number.
Counsel assisting the Commission asked…
Counsel questioning Adam Purcell went on to propose that there was just one reason for Robert Ovadia to send that text message.
Robert Ovadia was well within the journalist's code of ethics in wanting to protect his source.
But the suggestion from Counsel Assisting the Commission that Ovadia deliberately created material which could be used to deceive any internal police investigation would raise questions about how far a reporter can go.
Proposed shield laws to protect reporters from court demands to name their sources aren't yet in place.
But the changes won't protect a reporter who helped to mislead an enquiry.
A hearing into the police handling of rape allegations has been playing the taped phone conversations of at least one senior police officer - Superintendent Adam Purcell.
And what the Commission heard along the way were phone calls that show how some journalists and some police work together.
When Channel Seven's Robert Ovadia reported this, he had detail which left his competitors behind.
Well Ian, late today police sources confirmed to us that the man who XXXXXX assaulted a XXXXXX at XXXXXX yesterday is indeed a serial sex offender.
— Channel 7, Sydney News, 5th October, 2006
And how did Robert Ovadia get his scoop about the serial offender?
Well here's the phone intercept of him talking to his source - Superintendent Adam Purcell.
Robert Ovadia (RO): No worries, anything additional we can expect?
Supt Adam Purcell (AP): Yeah, there (sigh) we think this has been a series. Yeah and mate we’ve gone back over our records and um mate there could be um, and politically speaking we’ve got to be very careful.
RO: Yes, yeah.
AP: We think it’s the same offender.
RO: There you go.
— Police Integrity Commission, Telephone intercept, call date 5th October, 2006
The phone taps show Robert Ovadia being reminded to protect his source - with Superintendent Purcell telling him that "If anyone asks you got it off the scanner".
And later the reporter assures the policeman...
Robert Ovadia: Good stuff. You’re well protected where I’m coming from. Obviously you know why I sent that text through, so?
Supt Adam Purcell: I’m, I’m completely at ease.
— Police Integrity Commission, Telephone intercept, call date 5th October, 2006
The text message mentioned by Robert Ovadia was sent to Superintendent Purcell twenty minutes before Channel 7 News went to air.
It's been suppressed by the Commission but here's what the Counsel assisting the inquiry asked about it.
Mr Michael King (MK): Mr Purcell, do you recognise that as an SMS message that you received from Mr Ovadia in relation to this particular matter?
Supt Adam Purcell (AP): I don't recall receiving that, but I don't dispute it.
MK: You will note in it that he says that he's confirmed elsewhere that the XXXXXX attacker is a serial offender and "We'll be running it tonight"?
AP: Yes.
— Police Integrity Commission, Operation Mallard transcript of proceedings, 1st June, 2007
Read the transcript of proceedings from Operation Mallard, 1st June, 2007.
And then less than a minute after he sent that text message Robert Ovadia rang the Superintendent - on the same number.
Supt Adam Purcell (AP): Adam Purcell.
Robert Ovadia (RO): G’day it’s Rob.
AP: Yeah mate?
RO: Just sending that text to cover bases in case there’s any (ui) dramas
AP: Yeah, no mate, that’s why, it’s sweet mate, no worries
— Police Integrity Commission, Telephone intercept, call date 5th October, 2006
Counsel assisting the Commission asked…
Mr Michael King (MK): That was yourself and Mr Ovadia?
Supt Adam Purcell (AP): Yep.
MK: Mr Ovadia indicating to you that he'd sent the text to cover the bases in case there were any dramas?
— Police Integrity Commission, Operation Mallard transcript of proceedings, 1st June, 2007
Counsel questioning Adam Purcell went on to propose that there was just one reason for Robert Ovadia to send that text message.
Michael King: The purpose of that was to provide you with the
ability to demonstrate that Mr Ovadia had found out about
it being a serial offender from his own resources, rather than the material you had earlier supplied to him in the telephone call at 10:12:30 that day?
Supt Adam Purcell: I suppose that could be the inference, yes.
— Police Integrity Commission, Operation Mallard transcript of proceedings, 1st June, 2007
Robert Ovadia was well within the journalist's code of ethics in wanting to protect his source.
But the suggestion from Counsel Assisting the Commission that Ovadia deliberately created material which could be used to deceive any internal police investigation would raise questions about how far a reporter can go.
Proposed shield laws to protect reporters from court demands to name their sources aren't yet in place.
But the changes won't protect a reporter who helped to mislead an enquiry.
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AS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMUNITY, MIKIVERSE POLITICS HONOURABLY REQUESTS YOUR HELP TO KEEP YOUR NEWS, DIVERSE,AND FREE OF CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT SPIN AND CONTROL. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU MAY ASSIST, PLEASE CONTACT: themikiverse@gmail.com
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