A number of police officers involved in the case against NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton have been referred to an internal standards panel.
All charges against the pair, over incidents police had alleged had occurred in the early hours of February 5 this year, were sensationally dismissed in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The dismissal came after Sergeant David Power, the supervising officer during the arrests, admitted on Tuesday to giving false evidence to the court.
Police Minister Mick Gentleman confirmed the internal investigation on ABC Radio on Thursday morning after speaking with ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan.
“I’ve been advised by the CPO that these officers have been addressed to the internal standards unit of ACT Policing,” Mr Gentleman said.
“So, there will be an investigation of that procedure there, and I don’t want to pre-empt that, so I’d like to see that go through.
“And of course the Chief Police Officer will be making comment after that occurs.”
Mr Gentleman wouldn’t be drawn on what disciplinary action – if any – the officers would face.
“I imagine there would be a review, but I don‘t want to pre-empt the internal standards unit doing their work,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll get some outcome from the investigation with internal standards.”
Speaking outside court after the charges were dismissed on Wednesday, Mr Mitchell’s solicitor Tom Taylor said Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury had also been made aware of the case and would consider a review.
Magistrate Jane Campbell dismissed all charges against Mr Wighton and Mr Mitchell after prosecutor Sam Bargwanna said the prosecution had no more evidence.
ACT Policing has been ordered to pay both players’ legal costs.
The pair were arrested while celebrating Mr Wighton’s 30th birthday at Fiction nightclub in Canberra earlier this year.
Sergeant Power had ordered Mr Wighton out of the club after he observed him to have “clenched fists”, an “angry expression” and be in another man’s face.
After being shown footage that failed to show what Sergeant Power “believed” he saw, he was forced to admit his memory had “let him down”.
Outside the club, police alleged Mr Wighton and Mr Mitchell got into a fight.
After breaking the scuffle up, police attempted to arrest Mr Mitchell as he cried out in pain and pleaded for help while his friends watched on.
The court was told police used elbows, knees, and a baton to handcuff Mr Mitchell.
Sergeant Power said there had not been an issue with the level of force used, while onlookers could be heard in police body-worn camera footage crying “police brutality”.
Mr Wighton had been charged with contravening an exclusion direction and fighting in a public place, while Mr Mitchell was charged with fighting in a public place, affray, and resisting territory officials.
Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner said outside court on Wednesday the case had been “an extraordinary waste of the court’s time and taxpayers’ money”.
“This could have and should have been avoided,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s the last ACT police and the DPP will have heard of this.”