News Ltd criticised as police chief cleared
RAFAEL EPSTEIN
June 12, 2010

VICTORIA'S police watchdog yesterday cleared the Chief Commissioner, Simon Overland, of any wrongdoing over the leaked details of a crime investigation as details emerged of alleged attempts by Rupert Murdoch's media empire to intimidate law enforcement agencies.

The Office of Police Integrity's director, Michael Strong, issued a statement saying he believed Mr Overland acted lawfully when he told his then media director about intelligence that came from covertly taped phone calls.

A series of controversial articles in the Murdoch-owned Australian newspaper this week claimed Mr Overland's conversation undermined an investigation into the 2003 murder of a prostitute, Shane Chartres-Abbott. But Mr Strong said Mr Overland acted within the law, ''for a purpose connected with an investigation'', in conveying covert information to a trusted confidante.

www.smh.com.au/national/news-ltd-critici...d-20100611-y3lk.html