Australia- Child porn suspect kills himself amid bungle row

6-7-2008 Australia:

STATE police fear dozens of child pornography suspects could escape justice because the Federal Police "screwed up" one of the nation's biggest paedophile busts.

Meanwhile one of the 90-plus men already rounded up - a teacher - has apparently committed suicide.

Scores of men have been arrested across Australia, including Canberra-based federal policeman Michael Edward Hatch, 38, who has already pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and using a carriage service for child pornography.

See his picture plus a gallery of arrest pictures here.

Senior Queensland police sources last night accused the AFP of going public too early, effectively tipping off nearly half the suspects and compromising the six-month investigation.

"They're expecting accolades but they've screwed up," a source said.

An AFP spokesman denied "operational activity had been compromised".

"Throughout this investigation the AFP has closely consulted and co-ordinated with state and territory law enforcement partners," he said. "It is important the public hears this message and are warned of the danger."

Further raids are expected across Queensland every day for the next few weeks as police search for about 85 more people who downloaded child pornography from a European website.

Federal and state police have already arrested 41 Queenslanders, aged 32 to 68, including four teachers and six bluecard holders, and laid 133 charges.

The Australian reported a Sunshine Coast teacher, 59, had committed suicide after being charged on two counts.

But sources fear suspects could have already begun destroying evidence and fleeing after the AFP went on a publicity bonanza yesterday to trumpet their early successes.

"Why did the AFP have to do this and ambush the whole country without letting us work together?" a police source said.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said he "hoped" the investigation was not compromised.

"There's always a balance with these things between public awareness ... and the confidentiality and security of the operation," Mr Atkinson said.

Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence said investigators targeted teachers and blue card holders in the initial stages of the operation.

"We need to send a message out there to people very seriously that looking at these sites is illegal because at the other end of the site is a victim," she said.

"It's a child somewhere in the world being exploited."

Head of Queensland's Child Safety and Sexual Crimes Group, Detective Superintendent Peter Crawford, said a Queenslander had been charged with rape and indecent assault but did not live with the victim.

"There hasn't physically been a need to remove any children in relation to investigations (in Queensland)," he said.

Supt Crawford denied investigations would be derailed by the early publicity.

"If we can find them we will be executing a warrant and we will be conducting investigations," he said.

Seventy arrests were made around Australia and another 20 men have been issued with notices to appear in court. Queensland has been the hub of the inquiry with more than half the arrests.

AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said 300 search warrants had been executed and more than a million images had been seized. He warned that more arrests were imminent. ..News Source.. by The Daily Telegraph