Yesterday Nicky Hager released a statement which began:
Statement by Nicky Hager on police seizing property
On Thursday, 2 October, five police arrived at my home with a warrant to search and seize property. I was in Auckland at the time for two days of lectures at the University of Auckland. The police spent over ten hours searching the house and removing property in an attempt to discover the identity of the person who provided information used in my book Dirty Politics.
Soon after the police arrived, the lead detective stated that I was not a suspect in their case, merely a witness. I spoke to him by phone and informed him that he would find no information in the house about my source. Nonetheless, he and his four colleagues seized a large collection of papers and electronic equipment belonging to my family, including computers, drives, phones, CDs, an IPOD and a camera. …
Fifty person hours searching one house? For someone who is merely a witness, not a suspect? What did they think they were going to find on an iPod – incriminating music? It can only be designed to intimidate Hager, his family, and any other potential whistleblowers.
How far will this harassment go?
Investigative journalist Nicky Hager says he will go to prison rather than reveal the identity of the hacker source for his Dirty Politics book, following a police raid on his home.
Key’s government has a systematic record of attacking journalists and media outlets that embarrass them. Meanwhile the numerous other police complaints arising from Dirty Politics remain in limbo…
Update: Russell Brown said it better in “Doing over the witness”. So did Gordon Campbell.
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