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From: judy
Wednesday, 11 October 2000 19:56
To: OVOP

I have some bad news I am afraid. The special operations group and the sheriffs office swooped on mum and dad's place at 8pm last night. They took mum, dad and my brother Joe into custody and transported them to the Sale police station for questioning. Mum and Joe were later released but dad has been held in custody on criminal firearm offences and making threats to a sheriff of the supreme court. A bail application has been set for Friday morning (13th October, 2000)at the Moe Court house. Dad's solicitor is currently briefing a barrister to represent him in court on Friday. I went up to the Sale police station at 3 am this morning to pick up Joe and mum and asked to see dad. The Police would not let me see dad and told me to come back in the morning. We attempted to see dad on 3 separate occasions today but on each occasion the police told me that the station was undermanned and they could not spare an officer to supervise a visit. So, dad has been held in custody now for 24 hours and no-one has been allowed to see him. Unfortunately his solicitor is situated in Melbourne, which is about 2 hours drive away and was unable to get down to see him. But Keith Hoban, dad's solicitor was able to speak with dad on the phone.

The Sheriff has taken possession of the property and all items that were left there. Mum and I went down there at 7am this morning and I spoke to the policeman in charge. He informed me that we weren't allowed on the property until he had spoken to the sheriff. Eventually, the sheriff agreed to let mum and I onto the property to pick up a number of personal items.

The rest of the things have been shipped off somewhere into storage and we are unable to find out where at this stage. What a darn mess. I shall keep you informed.