source : the age
The Melbourne headquarters of the CFMEU have been raided by police and five people taken into custody as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption and links to outlaw bikie gangs.
Detectives from Victoria Police’s corruption-busing Taskforce Hawk executed warrants at six addresses, including the CFMEU’s Elizabeth Street headquarters on Monday.
The raids are connected the taskforce’s operation targeting the former national vice-president of the Mongols outlaw bikie gang, Tyrone “Little Ty” Bell, who is being probed over allegations he offered inducements to officials still serving in the CFMEU in return for support of his business.
This masthead has reported that Taskforce Hawk is examining whether CFMEU organisers leaked Bell, a former CFMEU delegate, information or co-ordinated union activity with him to advance the interests of Bell’s industrial relations consultancy.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said further information about the raids will be provided later this afternoon.
“Detectives from Taskforce Hawk executed warrants at six addresses this morning as part of a current investigation into information provided re secret commissions,” the spokesperson said.
“Five people have been taken into custody and are being interviewed by police. Further information will be provided later this afternoon.”
The Hawk inquiry is the first “secret commissions” investigation undertaken by the state police taskforce combating wrongdoing in the building industry, and it is examining Bell’s dealings with serving, rather than former, CFMEU officials.
It comes as Victoria Police expands its focus from investigating and prosecuting suspects to gathering information to supply the promised royal commission into the building industry.
CFMEU assistant administrator Matt McGowan said: “CFMEU has been made aware of a police operation this morning as part of Taskforce Hawk. As this is a live police matter, CFMEU can not comment further at this time.”
More to come
Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. He was previously a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.
