Friday, January 25, 2019

Taps


The Palace cinema is now showing Mule - Clint Eastwood beguiles as a grumpy old drug-runner

Eastwood's latest film, his 40th as director and his first leading role in a decade, reunites him with Gran Torino writer Nick Schenk, for a drawn-from-real-life story of yet another cantankerous Korean War veteran who's out of step with modern social mores.
But The Mule offers a more curious variation on that character type — a stubborn loner who seems less grouchy than mildly bewildered, his grizzled behaviour merely quaint rather than actively antagonistic.
The Mule Movie vs. the True Story of Leo Sharp the Drug Mule - History vs. Hollywood

A 53 year-old homeless man was arrested after trying and failing to use a counterfeit $20 bill to buy toothpaste and food. prosecuted him, a jury convicted, and he was sentenced to 4-8 years in prison. Ct. of Appeals just reduced it to 3-6.Cold Justice

How does it happen that high-profile government employees end up facing allegations of unethical conduct and at worst, criminal charges. What are the common denominators present in cases where public officials misuse or abuse their position of trust. Are lawyers immune to the temptation to cover up or turn a blind eye to the indiscretions of those they work for or with? What causes a respected public servant, including lawyers, to lose their judgement and travel down an unethical path? This session will address these issues frankly by reference to examples and provide guidance on how to recognise when the line between ethical and unethical is starting to blur.
Ethics, wilful blindness and temptations: government lawyers' professional responsibilities in sticky situations - Svenson Barristers

Michael Cranston phone taps reveal his concerns about negative publicity for the ATO




The son of a former Australian Tax Office deputy commissioner accused of misusing his position to obtain information asked whether one of his father’s subordinates was “discreet” and “trustworthy” in a series of tapped phone calls played to a court.

A sometimes audibly nervous Michael Bede Cranston was heard speaking to his son Adam, who affectionately called him “Big Fella”, during the 21 intercepted conversations aired during his trial before Judge Robyn Tupman in the NSW District Court at the Downing Centre....

In a conversation played to the jury, Michael Cranston told his son, “I’ve got Scott onto it”.

Adam asked, “he’s pretty discreet though, isn’t he?” to which Mr Cranston replied, “yeah, yeah”.

“Is he trustworthy and stuff?” Adam asked, with Mr Cranston saying, “he reports directly to me”.


...
It’s alleged Mr Cranston contacted another assistant commissioner, Tony Poulakis, regarding Adam’s request, but misled him as to its nature.

Mr Cranston said in a conversation with Mr Poulakis in which he asked him to find an auditor who investigated Plutus Payroll that he was worried about the situation “blowing up in the press”.

“It looks bad for us too,” he said.