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HOBART - Tasmania's police chief Jack Johnston has been suspended from duties on full pay while investigations continue into allegations he disclosed official secrets.
At the same time a storm has erupted over claims Johnston was strip-searched and roughly handled while being held in custody following his arrest in Hobart on Tuesday.
Premier David Bartlett yesterday announced that Johnston would remain on suspension until the conclusion of the investigation into his alleged contravention of the state's criminal code.
Johnston, 58, appeared in the Hobart Magistrate's Court on Tuesday charged with two breaches dealing with the disclosure of official secrets.
He was arrested, charged, finger-printed and photographed before being handed to correctional officers after presenting himself at Hobart City Police Station.
Bartlett said Johnston would continue to receive full remuneration and allowances from his A$230,000 ($260,000) a year salary.
Acting police commissioner Darren Hine will continue in that role.
Yesterday Tasmania Police reacted angrily to accusations by former National Crime Authority member and Tasmanian Deputy Premier Sir Max Bingham, that his friend had been roughly handled while in custody.
"This could have been handled much more gently; a strip-search of a police commissioner is totally unnecessary," Sir Max is quoted as saying by the Hobart Mercury newspaper.
Police yesterday denied any involvement but pointed the finger at correctional officers.
"Police did not strip-search the commissioner of police, Mr Jack Johnston," Hine said.
Police instead said it was procedure for correctional officers to strip-search prisoners.
In response, a Justice Department spokesman said prison bosses had insisted Johnston be "treated the same as any prisoner taken into custody".
However, the department refused to say if its officers strip-searched Johnston.
Johnston is accused of twice tipping off the state Government in April this year to a police investigation into a persistent complaint detailing an alleged appointment-for-favours deal.
Court documents show the secrets relate to an alleged deal to appoint Hobart lawyer Stephen Estcourt, QC, to the position of Solicitor-General in return for his acting free of charge for former Deputy Premier Bryan Green.
Johnston voluntarily stood down in August when an investigation into his conduct was announced.
He has pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him. He was bailed to appear in the Tasmanian Supreme Court on February 2.
- AAP