A Gold Coast police officer accused of leaking video footage showing his colleagues brutally bashing a young man in a police station basement is facing criminal charges.
Noa Begic was repeatedly punched to the ground in the station's basement with his hands cuffed behind his back in January 2012.
While the two officers responsible for the attack were given a slap on the wrist, Rick Flori, the station's sergeant, who allegedly leaked video footage to The Courier Mail is now facing charges of misconduct, abuse of public office and fraud.
Since the incident, Flori's house has been raided by officers from the Ethical Standards Command, and he was “reassigned”. He has been fighting to clear his name ever since.
Of the four officers involved in the attack, only two ever faced disciplinary action and one of those – a sergeant seen washing away blood with a bucket of water – retired from the service before any findings were made. The officer filmed punching Begic was stood down, but has since been reinstated without demotion. Begic himself was never charged.
Renee Eaves, who has helped Begic and Flori in their battles against the QPS, said the charges against Sgt Flori were a disgrace.
“There are many good police within the organisation without a voice who were intimidated by these types of actions,” she said. “They are too scared to report misconduct for fear of workplace harassment or intimidation.”
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