Aust. Abortion Inquiry

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 19

Aust. Abortion Inquiry

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) : MELBOURNE, Feb. 3. A senior police officer }who is alleged to have received protection money from abortionists in Melbourne denied yesterday that he had had a sexual relationship with a key witness in the Victorian abortion inquiry.

Detective-Inspector Jack Ford, head of the homicide squad, challenged a statement by Mrs Margaret Berman, aged 41, a doctor’s reception Ist, that they had such relati.'ns while she was acting as a go-between for the abortionists and the police. Inspector Ford is one of seven present or former members of the homicide sq ad named in allegations of graft and extorticn. They a.e said to have accepted bribes to protect doctors doing illegal abortions.

The allegations are being hiard at a Goveiumentordered inquiry presided over by Mr W. Kaye, Q.C. Mrs Bern an, one o' six people wiio named the seven oolicemen in affidavits presented to the Victoria.) State G-.vernment, had said earlier thet she and Mr Ford were lovers. Replying to questions from Mr Kaye, Mrs Berman said that she ard Mr Fcrd had ii.tercourse at all he; residences in Sydney, Melbourne and Honolulu.

Near the end of yesterday’s hearing, Mrs Berman handed & r Kaye < list of 30 names, allegedly of people involved in a police investigation into the activities of a M. S. C. Wyatt, whj. she said, was an unqualified practitioner. She said Mr Ford gave her the list on the day Mr Wyatt was arrest'd by the police, ai.d warned her to steer clear cf the people named.

I Curing the seventh day of the inquiry yesterday, Mr [Ford suggested to Mrs BerI man during cross-examination I that trouble arose between them because he could not, and would not, have sexual relations with her. “1 put it to you that 1 did not have sexual intercourse with you at any stage,” Mr Fora said. Mrs Berman, who has given evidence every day since the hearing began, replied: “That’s not true.” Mr John Winneke, who is assisting Mr Kaye today questioned Mrs Berman on her financial affairs and transactions. Mrs Berman told him that she mortgaged a house at Emerald, near Melbourne, to pay for a trip round the world in 1967. Asked by Mr Ford if she stayed at the best hotels, Mrs Berman replied: “They were all suites with a bathroom and bedroom."

Mr Ford: How much did iycur trip cost? Mrs Berman: I can only judge by the mortgage documents. I don’t really know. Mr Ford then asked the witness if she had bought a mink coat, and she replied, “yes.” Mrs Berman broke down and cried, and could not resume her evidence for a few miuutes. Then she said that she had worn the mink coat to go to a hospital where the nature of her disease was realised. “A friend took it back, and it was sold again because it was ridiculous to have such a coat in such circumstances,” she said. Asked whether she had filed a proper income tax return between 1960 and 1970, Mrs Berman said: “I have not put In an income tax return since the investigation.” The hearing is continuing.