Victoria Police have arrested a 49-year-old man in relation to suspected perjury offences. The man was re-arrested and interviewed on April 30 over evidence he had previously given in other bail matters. The investigation into the bail compliance service is ongoing, with alleged anomalies detected in relation to the privately owned service. AFTR, the bail compliance service in question, focuses on individuals in the criminal justice system due to addiction. The program conducts assessments, prepares reports, attends hearings, provides expert testimony, and fulfills necessary requirements for bail and parole undertakings.
In the Alibadi bail hearing, allegations were made that the man behind AFTR, Millar, had received advice from defense lawyers on what information to pass onto police regarding bail conditions. Text messages presented in court suggested that Millar was attempting to prevent Detective Lindsay from being promoted. Alibadi’s barrister objected to the evidence, stating that there was nothing sinister in the messages and that Alibadi had been described as the best resident by Millar. In an effort to continue Alibadi’s bail, his barrister proposed sending him to an in-patient residential treatment facility that offers supervised drug rehabilitation and mental health services at a cost of $36,000 for a 90-day program.
However, the prosecutor opposed the move, stating that previous reassurances provided by the last service provider had proven to be untrue, highlighting a lack of regulation and oversight in such services. Victoria is described as one of the most regulated places on Earth, with regulations in place for various professions, yet there is no regulation for bail compliance services. Anyone can set up such a service without oversight or professional regulation, leading to potential issues in the system. The hearing was adjourned to allow for evidence from the proposed new service provider to be heard.
The case raises concerns about the lack of regulation and oversight in bail compliance services, which can have a significant impact on individuals in the criminal justice system. The allegations of perjury and manipulation of information highlight the potential risks involved in such services. The ongoing investigation into the bail compliance service will hopefully shed light on any potential wrongdoing and lead to improvements in regulation and oversight to prevent similar issues in the future. The involvement of defense lawyers and allegations of improper influence on bail conditions further complicate the situation, underscoring the importance of ensuring transparency and integrity in the legal system.
