NSW: Cop involved in Levi shooting used cocaine: PIC

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-1999
NSW: Cop involved in Levi shooting used cocaine: PIC

An inquiry in Sydney has heard that one of the policemen involved in the fatal shooting of
Frenchman RONI LEVI on Bondi Beach was a cocaine user.

The Police Integrity Commission has been told former officer RODNEY PODESTA snorted lines
of the drug on a toilet cistern at the Byblos nightclub in Sydney's Oxford Street early in
1998.

LEVI was shot on Bondi Beach in June 1997.

Giving evidence of his own drug use, Senior Constable CHRISTAN (Christan) BRUCE said he
shared the cocaine with PODESTA on that one occasion only.

Snr Const BRUCE also told the commission he regularly used cocaine and ecstasy with two
other officers at a number of hotels and nightclubs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

So far, each of those other officers implicated in the misconduct have denied taking or
supplying drugs.

Mr PODESTA was not present at today's hearing.

AAP RTV jk/kbw/tsm/mcm/jn

KEYWORD: PIC (SYDNEY)

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