Police raid Seven West Media’s Sydney offices over Schapelle proceeds of crime
Australian Federal Police have this morning carried out a raid on the offices of Seven Network in Sydney under the proceeds of crime act.
The raids are understood to relate to the Schapelle Corby interview the Seven Network has reportedly lined up following the convicted drug runners’ release from prison last Monday.
It is understood police have also raided the offices of Seven West Media’s Pacific Magazines in Eveleigh and the magazine New Idea has jointly paid for the interview with Schapelle.
Seven Network is understood to have secured the rights for a seven-figure sum, however there has been conjecture over whether the deal breaks Australian laws over the Proceeds of Crime Act, as Balinese authorities have urged Corby not to do the interview for risk of violating her parole.
Channel Seven’s Damien Smith reported the Australian Federal Police have a copy of the agreement for the Corby interview, used as part of the execution of the search warrant. The search could go on until tomorrow morning, he said.
However, Sunday Night’s offices, located elsewhere in Sydney, have not yet been visited, with Seven reporting “heated scenes” as lawyers questioned the validity of the police search warrant.
A statement from police said: “The AFP can confirm it has executed a number of search warrants in Sydney in relation to an ongoing Proceeds of Crime Act matter.
“As this matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate for the AFP to comment any further.”
The raid coincides with Seven West Media’s half-yearly results presentation this morning, meaning most of the senior management team are not currently in the office.
According to Yahoo!7 employee Gus Bruno who has been tweeting from the scene the police raids happened at 8.55am, and are in relation to the deal believed to have been struck between the Corby family and Seven’s Sunday Night.
Although Seven has been tight-lipped about the deal, with figures bandied around between $1m and $3m, veteran reporter Mike Willesee was seen escorting Corby from the prison, and has been staying at a villa next to her since her release.
There has been some criticism of any payout to Schapelle, with Seven Sunrise presenter David Koch amongst the most notable to oppose it, making a statement live on air last week.
Yesterday Mumbrella asked media buyers whether brands would buy space on the interview if it goes ahead, with mixed results.
More soon.
Good to see they are searching the Promo’s Kitchen!
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Poor old Schapelle does a 10 stretch in the slammer and can’t make a buck, yet her horrible, screaming sister Mercedes has made millions flogging her story in interviews and suing anyone she can. Hardly seems fair, really.
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Why hasn’t such attention been focused on the Bali 9??? I’m sick of hearing about Schapelle. In the end, she got caught. Move on.
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It’s disturbing how Australian networks seems to embrace criminals as a form of entertainment. Underbelly is another series that glorifies criminal activity. Advertisers need to respond by looking for more positive content to sponsor.
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@Jonathan
What do you expect, we’re a country of bogans with lineage of convicts.
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@Ben – well said!
I would not be supported sponsorship of this interview – it is sensational and frankly, boring.
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Australia’s reputation for boganism is being revalidated every day. The circus continues.
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Schapelle should do a paid Zoo centrefold. that would be proceeds from crime!
Oy Ben. Who youse callin bogan, YOUSE is a bogan, bro.
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Im sure the legal wording is intricate, but i fail to understand how the Proceeds of crime law can be prosecuted.
If so (as mentioned above), underbelly and the myriad other movies and shows about criminals must surely be profiting from crime?
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This all simply needs to stop. Think about the time, energy and cost going into this circus. Most people do not care at all and have no interest in the interview of frankly anything to do with S and their family. Why doesn’t & or the networks spend this money on producing some quality locally produced content that their audience actually WANTS to see rather than shoving rubbish content at us and the market. YAWN!!!!
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Just tweet us the TRUTH to the million dollar question instead and save us all the hype! Was it yours Schapelle? Cannot put a price on freedom can you?
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I thought they raided the place for subjecting the public to ongoing visual pollution.
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They should of made Schapelle Corby one of the intruders on MKR.
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uuurrrggghhh just let her do the interview-poor girl deserves 10 million dollars putting up with what she has-and yes I do want to hear her speak-out of respect for her I do.
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I guess the AFP have solved the terrorist threats.
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Good…why pay for an interview where she wont say if she did it (if that is the case), she is not likely going to spill any beans or any shocking revelations.
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Go catch some real criminals ya fools…! Bloody pathetic effort n yes be ashamed
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That Mark Burrows photo looks like a couple of blokes taking a piss on the footpath outside Seven.
That’s a bit rude. Standards please, fellas!
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She wasn’t convicted in Australia.
Indonesia is rife with corruption.
There should be an international standard of conditions in jails.
She has lived in hellish conditions for years.
What about all the people that have been paid for their stories who have been jailed in so many other countries and nothing has been said or done about it?
Why doesn’t Australia start stopping people from selling their stories who’ve been convicted in any country seeing it now respects Indonesia so much as if its Australian law?
Oh yeah Indonesia is so trust worthy that’s why we need to spy on them so much.
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R Y Serious, you are correct. Having friends fro, Indonesia, they tell me their government is one of the most corrupt in the world. People often bribe their way out of their jail sentences. Also, many in high government positions make money off the boat smugglers and even use their military to take them to the boats. If you think boat smugglers get all the money from the refugees, you are deluding yourself.
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