http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-deputy-police-commissioner-nick-kaldas-makes...NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas makes explosive claims that could tear the police force apart
11 HOURS AGO JANUARY 30, 2015 6:23PM
DEPUTY Police Commissioner Catherine Burn has admitted running a covert bugging operation against fellow police deputy Nick Kaldas when they were both mid-ranking officers.
Ms Burn worked as a team leader within the Police Special Crime and Internal Affairs department and ran Operation Mascot, a secret bugging operation that was set up to investigate allegations of police corruption in the late 1990s but which now threatens to tear the state’s police force apart.
Speaking to a Parliamentary inquiry into the bugging scandal, Ms Burn confirmed she was in charge of an undercover officer codenamed M5 who approached Mr Kaldas wearing a listening device at least three or four times during the investigation.
Mr Kaldas, the then head of the homicide squad, was one of around 114 police officers and a small number of journalists who were targeted during Operations Mascot and Florida, which have since been the subject of allegations that it was run to settle personal vendettas within the police.
Mr Kaldas was in dispute with two senior officers within the SCIA at the time the bugging operations began.
“Mascot was an investigation into serious allegations of crime and corruption involving serving and former NSW Police officers,” Ms Burn told the inquiry.
KALDAS BLASTS PHONE TAP BAD BUGGERS
Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn gives evidence today. Picture Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia
Deputy Commissioner Burns arrives. Picture Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia