Murder, rape and drugs in latest Australian Defence documents By Ian McPhedran
The Daily Telegraph
January 20, 2012 6:19PM
Defence Force release "116 Hot Issues Briefs"
Follows the release of 140 HIBs last week
Offences include sexual assault, child porn and drugs
FOR the second time in a week the Defence Department was rocked by documents outlining criminal behaviour in the ranks including murder, child pornography, underage sex, rape, assault, bribery and illicit drugs.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has released the remaining 116 "Hot Issues Briefs" written by his department since he became the minister in September 2010.
More than 140 HIBs were published last week under Freedom of Information Laws including many that dealt with sexual assault, child pornography and attempted murder.
Most of the sex offences occurred in the weeks and months after the Skype-sex scandal at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in April 2011 when Mr Smith and the top brass pledged to clean up Defence.
The new batch even includes a murder case in November 2011 in which a soldier and his air force wife were accused of killing their young child in Townsville.
Other serious offences include:
* AN Army Reserve soldier charged with nine counts of sexual assault against a minor: January 4, 2012.
* A SOLDIER arrested for indecent dealings with a minor: November jl23, 2011.
* A RAAF member arrested on child sex charges: November 25, 2011.
* TWO bags of anabolic steroids found on HMAS Melbourne going to the Middle East: November 21, 2010.
* AN officer from HMAS Tobruk arrested over a bar fight in Singapore: October 29, 2010.
"Today's release will (put) 245 of the 248 Hot Issue Briefs received by me since becoming Minister in the public domain," Mr Smith said.
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http://www.news.com.au/national/murder-rape-and-drugs-in-latest-australian-defence-documents/story-e6frfkvr-1226249706182#ixzz1k29vjHa6
