KEY POINTS:
Suspended Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards has laid an official complaint with police about Louise Nicholas and the officers who investigated her claims against him.
Police last night confirmed that a complaint from Rickards was in the hands of the Police Complaints Authority for "investigation and review".
The revelation
comes as it is confirmed Rickards is facing at least 10 internal charges under police regulations.
The Herald on Sunday has obtained a letter, purportedly written by Rickards, in which he outlines two formal complaints against Nicholas - for alleged perjury and making a false statement. The authenticity of that letter could not be confirmed last night - Rickards has not returned calls - although police said it sounded similar to the one they had passed to the Police Complaints Authority.
The letter obtained by the Herald on Sunday takes aim at the Operation Austin investigation team, accusing it of running a flawed investigation and saying police leaked sensitive information about him.
The complaint against Nicholas is similar to that lodged by former CIB boss John Dewar last week. Dewar was found guilty of four charges of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice by not investigating rape complaints made by Nicholas.
He is due to be sentenced on October 5 and faces up to seven years in jail. Dewar says the false statement complaint relates to comments Nicholas made to police in February 2004, and perjury complaints relate to Nicholas' allegations against Rickards, Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton.
Nicholas said last week she stood behind everything she had said and did not believe there was any basis to Dewar's complaint.
Reports yesterday confirmed earlier Herald on Sunday revelations that Rickards would face up to 10 internal police misconduct charges and could be sacked if found guilty. It is believed the charges cover sexual liaisons with Nicholas, a woman's allegation he had sex with her on the bonnet of a police car in 1983 and his public criticism of the police investigation into the allegations by Nicholas and other women.
Rickards has been suspended from duty on full pay since February 2004, when investigations into historic rape allegations began. Rickards, Schollum and Shipton were last year acquitted of 20 charges, including the rape and sexual violation of Nicholas when she was a teenager in Rotorua in the 1980s.
Rickards, Schollum and Shipton were then tried on charges of abducting and indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Rotorua between November 1983 and August 1984. The woman - whose name is suppressed - claimed they handcuffed her and sexually violated her with a whisky bottle.
After not guilty verdicts were delivered, Rickards was scathing about the police team set up after Nicholas' allegations surfaced, describing the Operation Austin investigation as "a shambles" and "one I would have been ashamed to lead". It is understood some of the internal charges Rickards now faces relate to these comments.
Rickards' lawyer John Haigh refused to comment yesterday. "A process is being followed, but other than that I've got no comment to make," he said.
Police also refused to comment on the internal charges, saying they were a confidential employment matter.
Under the regulations police would have written to Rickards outlining the nature of the acts they believe constituted an offence.
He can seek an indication from Police Commissioner Howard Broad of his likely punishment if he pleads guilty, which could cause delays.
But if he pleads not guilty, a tribunal process similar to a district court hearing will begin behind closed doors, according to a newspaper report yesterday.
Broad will be guided by the former judge or senior lawyer heading the tribunal, but can fine or demote Rickards, cut his pay or sack him if he is found guilty.
Any accused officer can ask for a judicial review by the High Court.
A fresh call was made this week to get Rickards out of the police after it was revealed he was given a new $50,000 Holden car as part of his estimated $250,000 remuneration package.
National leader John Key said the Government should get rid of him even if it meant a payout. Prime Minister Helen Clark described Key's comments as reckless.