Organised crime gangs using poker machines in regional NSW to launder money and avoid detection. Authorities believe criminal gangs are using poker machines at small regional pubs and clubs to launder the proceeds of illegal drug dealing and prostitution, with tens of thousands of dollars being put into the machines in a single sitting.
Key points: Investigators say criminal gangs are moving into regional NSW to avoid police attention Poker machines in small pubs and clubs are being used to launder moneyOrganised crime is recruiting gambling addicts to clean "dirty" cash The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's (ILGA) data monitoring system has identified suspect transactions at pubs and clubs in the Cessnock, Maitland, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Coffs Harbour and Bland local government areas.
These are in addition to $5.5 million worth of suspicious transactions detected at poker machines across 180 venues in Sydney since the city came out of lockdown in early October, a figure that is growing at the rate of $1 million a week. Domestic violence, traffic offenders log on via videolink for post-release rehabilitation. Men convicted of domestic violence and driving offences are benefiting from an initiative that allows them to complete post-release programs virtually, via videolink.
Key points: The online program gives offenders access to rehabilitation they may not have been offered previouslyAlmost 450 offenders have been through the program since it launched in mid-2020Corrective Services NSW says completion rates are high and it's making a difference for remote communities Called LiViT — live, virtual and therapeutic — the software streams to both the offender and a remote facilitator at the same time. It was first introduced at Forbes Community Corrections, in central west New South Wales, mid-last year, to help improve access to rehabilitation programs for offenders who were in rural areas. One man is participating from his home, 200 kilometres away from the office. "It means ... we've actually been able to put the offenders into programs they hadn't been accessing for a long time. " Australian soldiers allegedly shot and killed 13-year-old Mohammad months after his first photo.
His name was Mohammad Zaher Shah, and he was just 13 years old.
He was one of at least 11 Afghan civilians killed in an Australian SAS raid that has become known as "the tractor job". This is the only photo of Mohammad Zaher Shah taken during his lifetime. It was snapped during a rare family visit from their remote rural home to Kandahar City in which they ate ice cream. Months after it was taken, the 13-year-old was shot dead by an SAS soldier as he cowered behind the wheel of a tractor in an onion field. Six other farmers from his district were also left dead, lying in or near the field, after the SAS operation in the Shah Wali Kot region on December 15, 2012. Juanita Nielsen's suspected murder brought Arthur King back to Kings Cross after his terrifying ordeal. Arthur King still seems agitated when talking about the time he disappeared for two days.
Maybe, after all these years, he's just sick of talking about it. For a few nights in August, 1974, Arthur vanished, and his neighbours feared the worst. There had been violence brewing on their street over two things that drive Sydney: money and land. Arthur had organised a group of about 50 neighbours to oppose a developer's plans to knock down their homes on Victoria Street in Kings Cross. The fight to save their street was costing some powerful and dangerous people a lot of money.
Tasmanian mother has no answers on when her son will return home from Allan Brahminy's program. A few months ago Hobart mother Sarah* got to see her son for the first time in more than two years.
Key points: Five Tasmanian children remain in the NT program, far from family support, but a Tasmania-based program could still be months awayA number of children who attended the NT program said when they misbehaved they were made to sit in isolation for hours on end A few months ago, Premier Peter Gutwein announced $500,000 to progress a local program It was an emotional reunion, with the mother and son hugging for several minutes, amazed at how much each other had changed.
"Oh my God, look at how big you got," Sarah told her son. How the Torres Strait's culture, geography and colonial experience is shaping crime and justice. In the Torres Strait, it can sometimes take hours, even days, for police to arrive after a crime's been reported.
And often, by the time officers step foot on the island, the situation has been resolved. Research shows islands in the Torres Strait, which stretch for 150-kilometres from the northern-most tip of Queensland to the coast of Papua New Guinea, have lower property crime rates than many non-Indigenous communities.
A recent Australian Institute of Criminology report debunks the generalisation that all Indigenous communities are riddled with crime. John Scott, one of the report's authors, says the Torres Strait region's crime figures are similar to those of "a relatively well-off white agricultural community on the mainland". Elders play key role in giving young Indigenous people hope and keeping them out of jail. Jahmarley Dawson had a growth removed from his brain and the back of his head was still healing when he found himself in a dangerous situation.
Key points: Jahmarley Dawson is working with the Murri Court after being charged with assaultElder Colleen McLennan says it is no get out of jail free card and requires commitmentNo participant in the Richlands Murri Court has returned to jail in the past four years A security guard put him in a headlock during a drunken night of celebration in Sydney, and the young Indigenous Queenslander responded out of pain and fear. Inside one woman's legal nightmare from a sexual assault case. A woman who refused more than $800,000 to drop her sexual assault complaint was financially destroyed and faced jail in the legal blowback.
Key points: 'Mr Smith' offered Narelle Dawson-Wells $830,000 to drop her complaintWhen she refused, he hired a private investigatorShe was charged by police, but the case was dropped three years later Former Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) official Narelle Dawson-Wells was charged with perjury and spent three years in court before prosecutors realised their key witness had lied on oath and hired a controversial former cop to dig dirt on her. The ABC can reveal details of the flawed prosecution, which some lawyers say is a cautionary tale for women pressing sexual assault charges. One legal expert said the case highlighted one of the problems with rape and sexual assault trials in Queensland — that it is often the complainant who is actually put on trial. An 800-year-old carved goddess was stolen from a Kathmandu Valley temple and smuggled to Australia. Now Nepal wants it back.
An international tug-of-war is continuing over a religious carving stolen from one of Nepal's oldest temples, which is now a prized exhibit at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) in Sydney.
Key points: A stolen 13th century carved wooden strut from Nepal has become a matter of contention between the Art Gallery of NSW and Nepali scholars The Kathmandu Valley has previously suffered looting of their artefacts, and locals want their items returned Social media activists are tracking down stolen items and calling for their return to Nepal Nepali scholars say the 13th century goddess was looted from the city of Patan in the Kathmandu Valley in the 1980s and smuggled out of the country.
The 1.3-metre carved wooden strut once helped support the roof of the Ratneswar temple in Patan's Sulima Square, and was donated to the AGNSW in 2000. The gallery has known the carving was stolen since 2001 and told the ABC it had been in protracted negotiations to return it to Nepal. Man taken to hospital, taxi drivers attacked and cars stolen in Darwin crime spree. Northern Territory Police have arrested a 19-year-old man following a crime spree in Darwin that saw a man hospitalised after being attacked with a "blunt implement".
Police said resources were stretched as incidents were reported across DarwinPolice described one of the incidents as "cowardly"Detectives want the public's help to catch those involved Police also allege a 79-year-old woman was left "shaken" but not injured after a home invasion in the suburb of Lyons. Australia's 'very weak' privacy protections may be behind key role in global operation against organised crime. Australia's "very weak" privacy protections are why the nation was such a key player in a major international crackdown on organised crime, legal and counter-terrorism experts say.
Key points: The AFP was the agency that obtained a court order to legally monitor encrypted communicationAn expert says Australia has allowed Americans to clear "a few hurdles domestically"The AFP on Tuesday defended the legality of Operation Ironside This week, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed its role in the country's largest policing operation.
The three-year sting, organised in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), brought down more than 200 alleged criminals. Now, a previously sealed affidavit in a United States District Court has provided insight into why Australia became a valuable partner in Operation Trojan Shield — known locally as Operation Ironside. Calls for Australia to reclaim Cocos (Keeling) Islands' internet domain, which has become a haven for child sex abuse. Set deep within the Indian Ocean, the Australian territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands has become an unlikely haven for online child sexual abuse material. Key points: Websites that contain child sexual abuse materials use the islands' domainThe Australian territory was given its own internet domain through a fluke of historyThere are now calls for Australia to take responsibility for the domain The string of postcard-perfect coral atolls topped with palm trees and fringed with white sand thousands of kilometres off the coast of Western Australia has a registered population of less than 600.
Yet, despite its small size, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands' internet domain regularly appears in the list of domains that account for most of the web pages identified as containing child sexual abuse images and videos. Through a historical fluke, the Australian external territory was given its own ".cc" internet domain name in the 1980s — at the same time as Australia was designated its ".au" code. NAB, Crown, SkyCity face AUSTRAC money laundering investigations. National Australia Bank, Crown Perth and SkyCity are all facing the possibility of multi-million-dollar penalties for potential breaches of anti-money laundering laws. Crown Perth is now facing a money laundering investigation by AUSTRACSkyCity Adelaide is also being investigated for potential breaches by the financial crimes regulatorAnd NAB has been referred to AUSTRAC's enforcement team due to "potential serious and ongoing non-compliance" with anti-money laundering laws In separate statements to the ASX this morning, NAB, Crown and SkyCity told investors that they had been referred to AUSTRAC's enforcement team following the identification of potential "serious non-compliance" with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
AUSTRAC is the federal financial regulator tasked with preventing organised criminals and terrorists using banks and other regulated companies that handle money to facilitate their operations. St Leonards supermarket owner calls for more police resources after second armed robbery in 12 months. A small busisnes owner says he and his family no longer feel safe in their community after his Launceston business was held up for the second time in less than a year. Key points: Mian Ahmad's business in St Leonards was robbed by two men armed with firearms yesterday for the second time in less than a yearMr Ahmad says there has been an increase in crime in the Launceston suburb in recent monthsTasmania Police says the total number of offences in the area have been decreasing Mian Ahmad was behind the counter at his newsagency and supermarket in St Leonards, east of Launceston, yesterday afternoon when two men armed with guns entered his business demanding cigarettes and cash before fleeing in a stolen white Ford ute.
The offenders are yet to be located by police and charged over the incident. Mr Ahmad said he was re-stocking ice creams when the masked men entered the store brandishing the weapons, captured on his store's CCTV cameras. New research reveals how long it takes for cannabis impairment to subside. New research has shown for the first time how long cannabis users are likely to be impaired and when it may be safe for them to drive. The research analysed 80 scientific studies on impairment from THCLevels of impairment depended factors like dosage and how often a person usedThe TGA has approved 100,000 prescriptions for medicinal cannabis in Australia The findings, researchers and advocates say, strengthen the case for changes to drug-driving laws in much of Australia. Researchers from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney discovered users were impaired for between three and 10 hours after taking moderate to high doses of the intoxicating component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC can be detected in the body for weeks after cannabis consumption, meaning users can face fines and loss of their licence, despite being unaffected by the drug. Her research is the first comprehensive meta-analysis to put a timeframe on impairment. Backpackers allege they were asked to work half-naked, offered money for sex acts on Australian farm Backpackers allege a Queensland farmer asked them to work half-naked, exposed his genitals to some of them and suggested to two women they engage in sexual acts with him for money. Questioning of sexual assault victims during trials 'worse' than in the 1950s, criminologist finds.
Australia has a 'particular problem' with filicide but experts say we're failing to find solutions. Cases of parents killing their children are often described as "senseless" and "incomprehensible", yet evidence suggests filicide may be more common in Australia than many of us would like to think, with one child killed by a mother, father or stepparent almost every fortnight. Keely has helped thousands of sexual assault survivors, but only knows two who've seen their abuser jailed. Keely Walsh always wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mum and become a social worker, but it was her experience of sexual assault that helped shape her work. Keely was only 21 when she was drugged and sexually assaulted, and in the aftermath experienced disassociation and late-onset trauma. She says it took her five years to be ready to speak with police. "When I did attempt to report the incident to police, they said due to a lack of evidence and a he said-she said kind of statement, that it wouldn't be worth my time or effort [to pursue the matter through the justice system]," she said.
Inside the making of the ABC EXPOSED investigation into the Ghost Train fire at Sydney's Luna Park in 1979. During the filming of interviews for her new documentary series, EXPOSED: The Ghost Train Fire, Caro Meldrum-Hanna experienced something that has never before happened to her in more than a decade of investigating difficult and shocking stories, including the disturbing Four Corners program into the NT juvenile justice system which triggered a royal commission. Hoda Afshar documents Australian government whistleblowers in new photography and film project.
A young woman who witnessed the inhumane treatment of refugees in offshore detention; an officer who saw the corruption of the Australian Defence Force firsthand; a disability care worker who uncovered a system of physical abuse of children and adults with autism. The government's response to Brittany Higgins's rape allegations reveals some very black ironies. It was hard not to see some very black ironies in the letter written by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to the President of the Senate, Scott Ryan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith.
What has changed in the year since cannabis possession was legalised in the ACT? Dire warnings of legal loopholes, a mental health crisis and drug driving fears accompanied the legalisation of cannabis in the ACT last year. Key points: Passed a year ago, the ACT's laws allow possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis per personCannabis offences have dropped by 90 per cent in the last 12 months ACT Health data shows there has been no increase in hospital presentations since the laws passed But one year on, cannabis users and stakeholders alike say that, while overall the impacts have been subtle, the change has been for the better.
"Overall, we found cannabis use hasn't changed and, in some ways, that's the big story, because there were really dire predictions at the outset," Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT chief executive Devin Bowles said. So what changed a year ago? Victoria Police investigates large 'hoon meet' in Melbourne's St Kilda. Stalking victim Di McDonald wants Max Gardiner forced to wear tracker on release from prison.
Youth crime. Former war crimes prosecutor urges federal investigator to pursue Army's 'chain of command' over Afghanistan allegations. Former NT executive caught in international child abuse material ring. Trial of NT police officer Zachary Rolfe, charged with murder of Kumanjayi Walker, moved to Darwin. Canberra legal professionals, accountant charged with money laundering operation - ABC News. Police smash alleged cockfighting ring in Sydney after raid on Catherine Field property - ABC News.
Alice Springs despairs over cycle of youth crime and disadvantage, as break-ins and domestic violence spike - ABC News. Coroner gives Victoria Police March deadline to provide brief of evidence on Maria James's death - ABC News. British women thought they'd found boyfriends who shared their beliefs. They were actually undercover police - ABC News. Labor MLA Marisa Paterson speaks about sexual harassment in first speech to ACT Legislative Assembly - ABC News. How can we provide justice for sexual assault victims beyond criminal trials? - ABC News. Here's how the Government is moving to detect, trace and block scam calls - ABC News. Protests in Paris turn violent in wake of footage showing police bashing black music producer Michel Zecler - ABC News. South Korean computer 'geek' bailed over alleged $360,000 theft from elderly Canberra woman - ABC News. Broome car theft spree leaves a trail of torched vehicles with residents, tourists demanding action - ABC News.
Court awards Sydney mothers $2m after landmark abuse case authorities refused to prosecute - ABC News. Tradies frustrated by banks as business email scam costs them $51,000 - ABC News. Former BRADAAG CEO admits defrauding $250,000 from Tennant Creek drug and alcohol service - ABC News. Victorian gambling regulator in the spotlight after Crown's 'bombshell' money laundering admission - ABC News. A witness's final message before the Afghanistan IGADF inquiry release: 'I think those people should go to jail' - ABC News. $2 million worth of cattle reported stolen from NT's Murranji Station, calls to reinstate a stock squad - ABC News. ASIO launches first public awareness campaign to warn Australians of foreign spies on social media - ABC News. NSW Government bought land for three times its value for light rail project - ABC News. Conclusion of war crimes inquiry just the beginning of potentially mammoth legal process - ABC News. Former Rose Bay High student Katrina Munting, sexually abused by teacher Marcus Pollard, speaks out - ABC News.
Alleged Kimberley paedophile Charles Batham back in Australia after secret police operation - ABC News. Fringe Church pastor Ron Hutchinson rehabilitates domestic violence offenders through conversation - ABC News. Majority of convictions for 'revenge porn' are linked to family violence, major study finds — but that's not the full picture - ABC News. When police investigated a fight between Kate and her cop ex-husband, the red flags appeared early. The damning evidence that brought Crown Resorts to its knees - ABC News. Universities accused of 'sham contracting' as wage scandal in Australia's higher education sector deepens - ABC News. Townsville community leaders, criminologists and police suggest ways to tackle youth crime - ABC News. Darwin man faces 12 years imprisonment for trafficking wife into India, Australian Federal Police says - ABC News. Suicide cluster highlights dangerous combination of social isolation and family violence for some migrant women - ABC News.
NSW Labor proposal could see domestic violence perpetrators jailed for up to ten years for coercive control - ABC News. Consequences for Rio Tinto over Juukan Gorge catastrophe are the new norm - ABC News. Inquest told John Edwards had long history of domestic violence before shooting dead son and daughter - ABC News.
Coronavirus triggers drop in prisoner numbers and an opportunity to reinvent the criminal justice system, lawyers say - ABC News. Walkers shocked to find native kingfishers with their feet glued to Cathu State Forest welcome sign - ABC News. How hard is the LNP willing to go on jailing kids? - ABC News. Child victim of domestic violence breaks his silence, describing horrors of his abusive stepfather - ABC News. Nearly half of Tasmania's released prisoners are locked up again within two years. In the Northern Territory, survivors of sexual assault are banned from speaking to the media.
Northern Territory sexual assault court outcomes spark calls for law reform. Matthew Guy organised meeting for company executive seeking to have land rezoned, IBAC hearing told. I thought I was helping a vulnerable orphan escape poverty. Then I realised I could be making her situation worse. Sexual abuse survivors turn to courts, after long waits for government settlement conferences. Mount Tamborine school principal wins defamation case over parents' social media posts. Signing away their voice: How non-disclosure agreements silence Australian women.
A decade on from his death, we're still no closer to finding out who killed Josh Warneke. Why Angela Williams was sent to prison twice for the same crime — 13 years apart. This accused sex offender has been on the run for nine years, so why doesn't anyone know it? One-punch victim Zac Longfield emerges from two-month coma to re-learn how to eat, speak and walk.
Koala deaths in Victorian blue gum plantation 'a crime', Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio says. Jamming the revolving door of women in prison, Jill Prior is putting a new spin on lady justice. Woman allegedly sexually assaulted at Rapid Creek by knifepoint on bike path. Sexual assault victims in ethnically diverse suburbs face 'tremendous hurdles' in coming forward. Falling through the cracks. Rough justice: How police are failing survivors of sexual assault. NT defence lawyers and prosecutors warn Territory legal services severely underfunded. Queensland police warns of scam targeting Chinese international students. Paramedics speak out against assault rate as staff told to delay treatment in the face of violence. Domestic violence survivor builds confidence to move on with help from 'fierce' taekwondo friends. More than 400 bushfire fundraiser scams reported as well-wishers dig deep for fire relief.
Viral stories of wombats sheltering other wildlife from the bushfires aren't entirely true. Sunshine Coast teenagers charged with serious assault after alleged attack on elderly woman. Child arrested for striking elderly woman in face with butterknife in Palmerston. Bushfire victims in Adelaide Hills targeted by scammers, another home destroyed. A night with police on the frontline of our domestic violence emergency. SA police officer led 'dangerous cult's' attempts to have critic criminally charged. Queensland's McNamee family still suffering after activist feedlot invasion - ABC Rural - ABC News.
Donald Trump's administration is after Julian Assange and it serves as a warning to us all. Judge's 'clearly offensive' Indigenous parenting barb subject of complaint consideration. Music festival inquest hears woman was told strip search would be 'nice and slow'