Key Concepts
Mark Standon, Adam Watt, James Kinch, Bill Gilatley, New South Wales Crime Commission (NSWCC), drug trafficking, police corruption, informant handling, sabotaged investigations, Royal Commission, Special Commission of Inquiry, parliamentary oversight, AFP (Australian Federal Police), pseudoephedrine, acetone, organized crime, witness intimidation, protection of criminal syndicates, cover-up.
Adam Watt's Arrest and Investigation
In 2008, Adam Watt, a former world champion kickboxer, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to import and supply pseudoephedrine, accused of working with a Dutch drug syndicate. Watt believed his arrest was a cover-up for the corruption of Mark Standon, a senior investigator with the NSW Crime Commission. While in prison, Watt was attacked, allegedly to stop his investigation into Standon. His defense brief disappeared after the assault. Despite brain injury and memory loss, Watt continued his investigation, recording conversations and gathering evidence. He believed his import was destined for members of the syndicate Standon protected.
Bill Gilatley's Testimony and Involvement
Watt sought information from Bill Gilatley, a food importer and Standon's co-accused, who planned to use his business as a cover for drug imports. Gilatley revealed to Watt that Standon had been involved in previous drug imports before 2007 and that the Crime Commission was aware of it. Gilatley claimed Standon and James Kinch had done previous imports and not been caught. Gilatley signed up as a witness with the NSW Crime Commission but never fully disclosed what he knew, receiving a reduced sentence of six years.
Crime Commission's Involvement and John Georgey's Role
After Watt's release on bail, police warned him of threats to his and his family's lives. Watt went into hiding but continued his investigation, collecting evidence against Standon. The Crime Commission's top lawyer, John Georgey, offered to help Watt with his defense, an unusual offer. Watt taped the meeting. Georgey stated he had no memory of this conversation, but anything he said would have been on instructions from the Crime Commission.
Mark Standon's Trial and Watt's Pursuit of Truth
Watt attended Standon's trial for five months, seeking withheld evidence and demonstrating his determination. He compiled evidence into an Excel document, despite warnings against taking on the NSW Crime Commission. Watt felt he was arrested to cover up the full extent of Standon's corruption.
Mark Standon's Defense and Nick Kaldas's Distrust
Mark Standon claimed innocence, stating the conspiracy to import pseudoephedrine "just didn't happen." Nick Kaldas, former deputy commissioner of the NSW police, distrusted the Crime Commission and Standon, noting that senior police had doubts about Standon as far back as 2003. Standon was often broke despite a high salary, borrowing money from colleagues.
Standon's Gambling Problem and Philip Bradley's Knowledge
The Crime Commission was aware Standon had taken money from the safe in his office, and boss Philip Bradley had paid for Standon's groceries. A Crime Commission document suggested Standon had a long-standing gambling problem. AFP Commissioner Mick Kilty told Philip Bradley in 2007 that Standon had taken a redundancy from the AFP to discharge unmanageable gambling debts. Bradley claimed he had plans to sack Standon but agreed to hold off to let the investigation run its course.
Standon's Relationship with Informants: John Anderson
Watt investigated Standon's relationships with informants, starting with John Anderson, a drug trafficker and suspected serial rapist and murderer. Standon had a long-standing relationship with Anderson. Philip Bradley was aware of Standon's relationship with Anderson a year before Standon's arrest. Anderson's wife stated they had looked after Standon for years and provided financial support. Standon denied taking money from Anderson but admitted to staying in a house Anderson was no longer renting.
Standon's Relationship with Informants: James Kinch
James Henry Kinch, a key figure in the Dutch drug syndicate, trafficked narcotics worth hundreds of millions of dollars into Australia. Standon and Kinch began secretly meeting in 2003 and became friends. Standon interviewed Kinch's cleaner, who claimed Standon pressured her to give evidence. The woman refused to give evidence and fled overseas. Standon lobbied for charges against Kinch to be dropped, and Kinch left the country a free man after forfeiting $900,000. Standon recruited Kinch as an informant, but Kinch's tips never led to major drug trafficker arrests.
Standon's Financial Dealings and Sabotaged Investigations
Standon would tip off James Kinch on what imports were and weren't being looked at. Kinch didn't give Standon money directly, but Standon got money from Gilatley, which Gilatley borrowed from Kinch. Standon asked Gilatley to hide $90 million in cash belonging to Kinch inside a meat export, but the deal fell through. The AFP believed Standon was complicit in multiple imports in 2006 with James Kinch. Standon sabotaged investigations into major organized crime, regularly tipping off his own syndicate.
Operation Gaia and Leaked Information
During Operation Gaia, Standon suggested an AFP officer was the source of a leak, but it was believed that the source of the leak was Standon. Standon was never charged for obstructing major investigations, protecting criminals, or falsely accusing his colleagues of corruption.
Lack of Public Examination and Limited Inquiry
Despite calls for a Royal Commission, one was never held. Instead, a Special Commission of Inquiry was established in 2011 with a narrow purview and only three months to report. Inquiry chief David Patton noted he was not authorized to look at Standon's 12 years at the commission or his possible involvement in other criminal activity. Patton challenged the claim that Standon hadn't committed any crime before February 2007.
Crime Commission's Narrative and Oversight Committee
The Crime Commission maintained that Standon was not engaged in any other crime before May 2007, when he was put under surveillance. In 2018, the Crime Commission said it was unaware of any misconduct or criminal activity involving Standon other than that dealt with at court. Members of the parliamentary committee that oversees the NSW Crime Commission were unaware of Standon's wider corruption.
Crime Commission's Reforms and Standon's Legacy
The Crime Commission has new leadership and has undergone major reforms. It's said had these measures been in place when Mark Standon was recruited in 1996, he would not have been offered employment. James Kinch was pursued by authorities around the world before being arrested in Thailand. The AFP is still trying to seize some of Kinch's wealth.
Conclusion
The case of Mark Standon reveals a deep-seated corruption within the NSW Crime Commission, involving drug trafficking, protection of criminal syndicates, and sabotaged investigations. The lack of a thorough public examination and the limited scope of the inquiry raise concerns about a potential cover-up. The reforms within the Crime Commission are aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future, but the legacy of Standon's actions continues to impact international drug operations. The need for transparency, accountability, and a commitment to uncovering the truth are crucial to preventing future corruption and ensuring justice.
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