Corrupt drug squad cop faces court in Melbourne

May 2006 Channel 7 news -
Senior-Detective David Miechel has been jailed for at least 12 years for stealing $1.3 million of drugs from a suburban house in Melbourne.
Miechel, 36, enlisted the help of police informer Terrence Hodson to rob the Oakleigh East house on Grand Final day, 2003.
The Supreme Court heard the detective's crew at the drug squad had been investigating the property and Miechel knew there were large amounts of drugs and possibly cash inside.
The Dublin St house was going to be raided within days.
Justice Betty King said, when sentencing Miechel in August, he had been in a privileged position, receiving information about illegal activity which he then used to his own advantage.

"You have sworn an oath to uphold the law and the community has acted upon that oath you swore and placed its trust in you," she said.
"You have abused that trust."
Surveillance footage showed two men approach the porch, smash the overhead light and break down the door, and then leave the house empty-handed a few minutes later.
A neighbour saw the unusual activity and called police, who arrived almost immediately with two police dog units.
Hodson was caught cowering in a nearby school and Miechel was chased down by a police dog.
Police found bags full of drugs and money that the pair had thrown over the back fence to be collected later.

Miechel pleaded not guilty, claiming he had been mistaken for one of the robbers when he came across them at the house and gave chase.
But Hodson admitted to his role and agreed to give evidence against the detective. Hodson and his wife were later murdered in their Kew home.
Hodson's daughter Mandy gave evidence about the close relationship Miechel had with her and her family.
She said the man she affectionately called Dimples had confessed to her, saying: "I did it more for you than for your dad."
She said it was hard to reconcile the devoted, highly motivated officer Miechel had apparently been with the person who committed this crime.
A jury found Miechel guilty in May of seven charges, including burglary and trafficking in a large commercial quantity of drugs.
Justice King sentenced him to 15 years with a non-parole term of 12

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