RCIPS staffer gets legal aid in corruption case

(CNS): The first case under the new anti-corruption law that will be heard in the Grand court had been delayed as the RCIPS staffer who is the first person to be charged under the law was refused legal aid the court heard Friday. Patricia Webster who was working as a receptionist at a police station when she reportedly abused police confidentiality was denied government funding because crimes under the new law have not yet made the legal aid schedule. Webster’s defence attorney pointed out that given the gravity of the charges which could result in a maximum sentence of ten years she needed representation. 

Having established that Webster met the means test Justice Alex Henderson granted the legal aid request allowing the attorney to begin work on the case load. The case was adjourned until 3 February when Webster is expected to formally answer the charges against her.

Webster was arrested in October following an investigation by the RCIPS own anti-corruption team and has been charged with two counts of abuse of public office and two charges of misconduct in a public office contrary to section 17 of the anti-corruption law 2008.The specific details of the charges have not yet been made public but the RCIPS has said the counts relate to confidential police data.