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East Timor spy charges against Bernard Colleary and Witness K reach court in Canberra
ABC News - September 12, 2018
Neither former spy 'Witness K' or his co-accused, lawyer and former ACT attorney-general Bernard Colleary, were present in the ACT Magistrates Court for this afternoon's hearing, however dozens of protesters called on the Federal Government to drop the case against the pair at a rally outside.
The pair were charged earlier this year with conspiring to reveal secret information relating to an incident where Australian Government agents bugged the cabinet room of East Timor during negotiations between the countries on oil and gas.
Witness K and Mr Colleary were charged with conspiring to share information covered by section 39 of the Intelligence Services Act, which covers secrecy and the unauthorised communication of information. The charges could see each man spend up to two years in jail.
Much of the case is shrouded in secrecy, and it is illegal to reveal details of the spying operation or reveal Witness K's identity. It is understood Mr Colleary has been served with a national security order which prevents him from discussing the case or court proceedings.
The court was today open to the public, however the Federal Attorney-General is expected to request that much of the evidence be heard in secret.
Today's proceedings focused on how national security information could be handled as the case proceeded through the courts, and both parties said they would attempt to reach agreement on the matter before the charges are next heard in October.
Outside court this morning, protesters including independent and minor party MPs Andrew Wilkie, Nick McKim and Rebekah Sharkie demanded the charges be dropped.
"It is outrageous that we are doing this, that our government is doing this in our name and not looking deeply at who in the previous Howard government was involved in the spying," Ms Sharkie said.
Mr Wilkie said he had faith the men would be cleared by the court. "Let's just hope now that the justice system in the ACT gives these two men a fair hearing and comes up with the outcome that we would all hope for," he said.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/witness-k-bernard-colleary-spy-case-reaches-court/10237860.
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