AFP Officer Charged with Corruption and Bribery

Friday 18 July 2014 @ 11.03 a.m. | Crime

Australian Federal Police Officer, Benjamin Joseph Hampton, has been charged with serious corruption and bribery. The charge came after he passed official AFP information onto a member of the public. He was charged yesterday after a joint investigation between the AFP’s Professional Standards area and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).

Background

The AFP alleges that Mr Hampton accessed official AFP information that was unrelated to his direct work responsibilities and passed that information onto a member of the public. Mr Hampton worked in the protection unit based in the AFP’s Sydney officer. However, due to investigations beginning on 1 May, he was suspended from duty. He was charged on the 16 July after a 15 month investigation by the ACLEI.

"The AFP does not tolerate corrupt or criminal behaviour from its members and will work with ACLEI to ensure we uphold the integrity that [is] inherent in all activities our members and the organisation undertake."

So said AFP Sydney Commander Ray Johnson. Commander Johnson has not commented on any other officers likely to be involved in this matter.

Charges

Mr. Hampton will be facing 12 criminal offences before the court. His charges include:

  • Two counts of receiving a bribe as a Commonwealth Public Official;
  • Two counts of receiving a corrupting benefit as a Commonwealth public official;
  • Two counts of abuse of public office;
  • Four counts of unauthorised access to data held in a computer with intent to commit a serious Commonwealth offence;
  • Two counts of divulge/communicate prescribed information

Bail

The Director of Public Prosecution opposed bail for Mr Hampton on the basis that there were concerns regarding a $1 million bank account in Mr Hampton’s name resulting from a recent property sale. However, bail was ultimately granted with the money used as surety. Other bail conditions include surrender of passport, restricted access to airports or any other points of exit in Australia and daily reporting to a police station.

Mr Hampton is due to appear before court on the 11 November. 

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