Operation Lantana - Police Integrity Commission

2.74 Battal agreed that he was at the premises knowing that a criminal act (the theft of the
tobacco) was going to be committed but maintained that it was all LP1’s idea. 191 He also
admitted that he was there in the knowledge that he would share in the money which
would come as a result of the criminal act being committed. 192 Battal said he could not
recall how much money he received, but denied it was tens of thousands of dollars. He
said that he was paid this money by LP1 and Masri. 193
2.75 Battal admitted to the Commission that he and LP1 had met with Masri a couple of times
to talk about who it was who lived at the Cabramatta house and other information about
them. 194 He accepted that by the time that he went to the premises, he knew quite a bit
about the persons who lived there and said that that information had “probably” come
from Masri. 195 He adhered to this version of events in his later evidence, even after Masri
had given conflicting evidence (see below, paragraph 2.96), although he did so somewhat
cautiously. 196 Battal accepted that he went to the premises knowing that the purpose of
the project was: namely, so that Masri could steal the tobacco and that he (Battal) and
LP1 would identify themselves as police officers to assist in that endeavour. 197
2.76 Battal tentatively suggested in his evidence that he was only at the premises because
LP1 wanted the money and that he, Battal, was his partner. 198 He denied that he had
organized the raid with Masri. 199
2.77 Battal agreed that he was inside the house when the conversation had been had with the
couple about how they might pay to get rid of any problems but said that it was LP1 who
had made the suggestion and carried out the negotiations. 200 He said that they had gone
back to the house later that day and that LP1 had gone into the house and came out
with a bag or envelope from which he was later given a “couple of grand”. He agreed that
he also received other money which had come in “dribs and drabs” from the sale of the
tobacco. 201 He said he had talked to Masri from time to time about the sale of the tobacco
and it had been conveyed to him by Masri that the tobacco was rotten. 202 In total, he said
that he had got $10,000 to $15,000 from his participation in the Cabramatta ‘raid’. 203
2.78 Battal said that he had talked to Masri alone about the job (on occasions) because LP1
lived too far away and that he, Battal, had to do the “running around” as a result. 204
He agreed that he and LP1 were partners in these operations who shared equally but,
he said, the operations were the idea of LP1. 205 Nothing was done, he said, without
the approval and presence of LP1. 206 He said he would not “initiate” but would hear
information and then meet up with LP1 and say to him “what do you think?” 207
191 ibid
192 ibid
193 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, pp.55-56
194 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.58
195 ibid
196 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 19 February 2009, p.305-306
197 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.59
198 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.60
199 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.61
200 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, pp.62-64
201 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.63
202 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.64ff
203 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.65; 17 February 2009, pp. 201-202
204 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, pp.66, 97
205 PIC Transcript, N M Battal, 16 February 2009, p.98
206 ibid
207 ibid
POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION – REPORT TO PARLIAMENT - OPERATION LANTANA
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