Overview
- Former detective sergeant Wayne Dean appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court as 35 charges were formally listed after IBAC laid charges on January 15.
- Co-accused Basilios Meletsis, Cheng Christine Zhang and Alex Dimopoulos also faced court over bribery-related allegations, with all four granted bail under no-contact-with-witnesses conditions.
- Court documents allege Dean received inducements including two return flights to Thailand in 2019, hotel stays at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne, the Four Seasons in Sydney and a night in Apollo Bay, plus a driver, a phone and cash.
- IBAC alleges Dean misused police powers and resources by staging interviews and presenting civil disputes as criminal investigations, sharing sensitive information and causing false information to be provided to a court.
- Prosecutors are set to serve briefs by March 12, and the defense indicated the material would be substantial before the matter returns to court on April 23.