Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has ordered the Commonwealth to withdraw the prosecution of lawyer Bernard Collaery, four years after he was accused of conspiring to divulge classified information about an alleged espionage operation in East Timor.
In 2018, Collaery was accused of helping his client, an ex-spy known only as Witness K, to reveal details of the ASIS classified mission.
The Canberra lawyer was facing the prospect of imprisonment, with the date of his trial set for October 24 in the ACT Supreme Court.
But Mr Dreyfus has confirmed this afternoon that he has now determined that Commonwealth prosecution should end.
“My view is that Mr. Collaery’s prosecution should end. I have therefore decided to exercise my power under section 71 of the Judiciary Act not to proceed with Mr. Collaery’s prosecution.” he said in a statement.
“In making this decision, I have taken into account our national security, our national interest and the proper administration of justice.”
Dreyfus said the decision to discontinue prosecution was based on the government’s commitment to protecting Australia’s national interest, including its national security and relations with its close neighbors.
More to come.
Posted 52 minutes ago 52 minutes ago Thu, July 7, 2022 at 4:16 am, updated 36 minutes ago, 36 minutes ago, Thu, July 7, 2022 at 4:32 AM