Illicit trade in native wildlife - witnesses Ando, Plant, Dawson, Green

t8/kr
CCC
MR HALL: What about Mr Green? Did he receive any telephone
calls?---I wasn't in a position to see that.
All right. Now, when you spoke to Mr Ando regarding this
intention to execute a warrant on Mr Green, did he in any way
indicate to you that Mr Green was a personal friend of his?---
No, he did not.
Now, were you aware that Mr Ando had previously been a member
of the special investigation unit at CALM?---Yes.
Did you at any stage know that he had a personal friendship
with Mr Green?---No.
Has Mr Green long been a person of interest to both Customs
and CALM?---He's definitely been an interest to Customs and
from information I've received from CALM, yes, I understand of
great interest to them as well.
And now, I think you've been present during Mr Ando giving his
evidence, have you?---Yes.
You've heard him say that in relation to this relationship he
has with Mr Green, he considers it to be a matter - - a
private matter and that he keeps his work separate from that.
Can you tell me, in relation to Customs and the conduct of
joint operations, if you knew that someone - and bearing in
mind Mr Ando has previously been involved in investigations
relating to Mr Green - if you knew that someone in such a
position had a friendly relationship with a person who was
under investigation, would you consider that to be a risk in
relation to the investigation?---Definitely.
Is it something that you would expect to - - if it was a
Customs officer involved, that he would report it to you?---
Yes.
In such a circumstance, would you take some steps to limit the
amount of information available to such a person?---Yes, I
would.
Both, I take it, in the interests of the investigation and in
their own interests?---That's right. It's fair to them.
Now, can you tell me, Mr Plant, in relation to the Customs
Service, do Customs conduct security vetting or security
clearances on its officers?---Yes, we do.
To what level are Customs officers security cleared?---The
general area of Customs, most officers are to the protected
level. Officers in the investigation section and intelligence
section are to the highly protected level.
23.11.04 M.R. PLANT XN 139
10.37