NEWS > 25 October 2006

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Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral
25 October 2006

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Informant 'roped into fake dru

A FORMER Victorian detective assigned to supervise a drug offender-turned-informant roped his charge into a $120,000 fake drug bust, a Sydney court has been told.

James Anthony McCabe, 36, was working for the National Crime Authority (NCA) � now the Australian Crime Commission � when he was appointed handler of informant APW5 in 2002.

The Police Integrity Commission in 2004 brought corruption related charges against Mr McCabe and fellow NCA officer Samuel John Foster, 41, over allegedly faking arrests to steal drugs and money.

The pair are facing a committal hearing in the Downing Centre Local Court, Mr Foster on 16 charges and Mr McCabe on two, including armed robbery, drug trafficking, corruption and attempt to obtain benefit by deception.

Testifying via videolink from a Victorian prison today, APW5 told the court Mr McCabe had introduced him to a man named Samuel Foster, describing him as his boss.

Mr McCabe and Mr Foster instructed him to arrange a $12,000 "sample" speed deal, the informant said.

"After that (the officers said) we buy a big amount and rip off," APW5 told the court.

With the assistance of two other informants, APW2 and APW3, APW5 set up a $120,000, 1kg speed deal in the carpark of a western Sydney McDonald's on the night of September 25, 2002.

APW2 climbed into the suppliers' four-wheel drive and lit up a cigarette, the agreed signal for Mr Foster and Mr McCabe to storm the vehicle, arrest him and seize the drugs.

After APW2 was led away at gunpoint, the two four-wheel drive occupants were allowed to go free, APW5 said.

The informants and two detectives then drove back into the city to divide up the drugs.

APW5 was given one packet to sell, a small portion of which netted about $4000, he said.

He gave this money and the rest of the drugs, which he was struggling to sell within the Vietnamese community, to Mr McCabe.

APW5 received a 50 per cent reduction in his 12-year drug offences sentence for agreeing to assist the authorities with the case, and given an assurance his evidence would not be used against him.

Mr Foster was present in court today but Mr McCabe, who has fled to Cambodia, was absent for a second day.

Magistrate Pat O'Shane yesterday issued a warrant for his arrest.

Australia does not have an extradition treaty with Cambodia.

Also giving evidence against Mr Foster today, a former sex worker, known as APW6, told the court she had been given 100 ecstasy pills in 2003.

Mr Foster, a client of hers, told her to sell the pills and return $10 per pill to him.

He also asked her to set up a friend of his with a drug dealer, promising her it was not a set-up.

She later heard a drug deal between Mr Foster and the dealer went wrong.

"I couldn't trust him, he kept denying it," APW6 said.

The hearing continues.

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Article sourced from

Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral25 October 2006

Informant 'roped into fake dru

EiP Comments:

Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral
25 October 2006