Categories
Ace History News

FEATURED FBI CASE HISTORY STORY: Antioch and Pittsburg Police Officers Charged with Public Corruption Crimes

AceHistoryDesk – This case is one of the highest priorities for the San Francisco Field Office,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “Law enforcement officers bear a tremendous responsibility to police our communities lawfully in keeping with the Constitution, and we must always be true to that guiding principle…The citizens of our communities deserve law enforcement personnel who practice what they enforce. Any breach to the public’s trust is absolutely unacceptable.”

@acenewsviews

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Oct.12: 2023: FBI Archive News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

Four separate indictments were issued on August 17, 2023. In the first indictment, referred to as the “college degree benefits fraud indictment,” six defendants allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to defraud Antioch and Pittsburg police departments out of taxpayer dollars by claiming they had earned college credits toward degrees when, instead, they paid others to attend classes and take exams for them.

In June of 2019, an officer of the Pittsburg Police Department allegedly used a person identified as “Individual 1” to complete multiple college courses on his behalf that were credited toward the officer’s Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Once the officer allegedly received a degree, they applied for and received reimbursements and pay increases from the Pittsburg Police Department. The same officer allegedly promoted the services of Individual 1. Five other members of the police departments ended up paying Individual 1 to complete similar coursework towards their degrees. As with the initial officer, they also applied for reimbursements and pay increases from their law enforcement employer.

In the second indictment, two officers from the Antioch Police Department allegedly conspired to illegally distribute anabolic steroids to an unnamed customer.

One of the officers allegedly possessed the drugs, and the other officer attempted to delete incriminating evidence from their cell phone before handing it over to law enforcement for investigation.

In the third indictment, a defendant from the Antioch Police Department received three charges, two involving alleged interference with a wiretap investigation, and the third involving the illegal seizure and destruction of a telephone.

On March 23, 2021, the defendant was assigned to a wire room where they were supposed to monitor communications between a target and others who contacted the target by telephone. The defendant allegedly used his personal cellphone to call a target, covering up any evidence of the call. On May 6, 2021, the defendant was present when another officer used a deployed a police dog while making an arrest. When the defendant saw a witness recording the aftermath of the incident on a cell phone, they allegedly seized and destroyed it.

The fourth indictment charges three Antioch police officers with conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under color of law.

The indictment describes several incidents of excessive force, among others. Allegedly, the defendants deployed excessive force as “punishment” to subjects “beyond any punishment appropriated imposed by the criminal justice system.”

For example, on August 24, 2021, one of the defendants, along with Antioch police officers, executed a search warrant at a residence, located a subject inside a locked bedroom holding a video game controller with a video game on a television screen.

When the defendant and other officers entered the room, the subject raised his hands. The officers surrounded the subject, and while one of the officers held down the subject’s arm to arrest him, the defendant deployed the 40mm less lethal launcher, injuring the subject.

“Color of law violations strike at the very heart of our justice system. They undermine public confidence in the law and law enforcement and erode the fundamental right of our citizens,” said Tripp.  

The indictment includes several other incidents of excessive force as well as the collection and sharing of pictures and munitions to memorialize the acts of violence.

Note that an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and comment thank you

@acenewsservices
Categories
Ace History News PEACE & TRUTH

Australian history

@peacewriter51

😥 63 years ago #OnThisDay 28 August 1960, the funeral service for kidnap victim 8-year-old Graeme Thorne at St Mark’s Church at Darling Point in Sydney.

7 Jul 1960 – Graeme Thorne abducted on his way to school 👉
https://www.facebook.com/100072207206515/posts/296150732801831/
17 Aug 1960 – News that Graemes body has been discovered 👉 https://www.facebook.com/100072207206515/posts/316837470733157/
18 Aug 1960 – Postman identify’s kidnappers house 👉 https://www.facebook.com/100072207206515/posts/317327740684130/

GRAEME THORNE
Birth: 18th December 1951
Death: 7th July 1960

Graeme Thorne was an 8 year old who was abducted and murdered in 1960’s Sydney, Australia. Graeme Thorne was the oldest child of The Thorne family, prior to the events Bazil Thorne the father had won £100,000 in the lottery.

Graeme Thorn had a routine that ran like clock work, he would leave the family’s Bondi home at 8:30am and would be picked up by a family friend on the corner of Wellington and O’Brien Street. On July 7th family friend Phyllis Smith arrived at the usual pick up spot only Graeme wasn’t waiting for her. Phyllis went up to family home to see if Graeme was going to school that day. Graeme’s mother confirmed Graeme was going to school and considered the idea that Graeme had gone to school by other means.

Phyllis carried on to the school her son attended with Graeme, The Scots College in the suburb Bellevue Hill. Graeme had also failed to arrive at school and the police were notified of the missing boy.

70 minutes had passed since Graeme had gone missing when a call came through. Sydney Police Sergeant Larry O’Shea was at the family home and answered the call pretending to be Mr Thorne. The caller demanded a ransom of £25,000 by 5pm or the young lad would be fed to the Sharks. The caller said he would call once again at 5pm.

The caller rang once again some 12 hours later, the orders was to put the money into paper bags. No further instructions were given and the caller hung up.

A month had passed and the dreaded discovery was made. Two young boys had found a body of a young boy in Grandview Grove. The body was wrapped in a blue rug and the boy still wore his school uniform he had put on a month ago. Graeme Thorne was now a murder victim.

It was determined the cause of death was asphyxiation or due to severe head injury, it is known Graeme was still alive when he received the head injury. Time of death was estimated at between 24hrs after the kidnapping.

After studying the evidence and a report from a postman, the police visited a house on 3rd of October. The home had belonged to an immigrant of Hungarian nationality, Stephen Bradley (he was born István Baranyay) however Bradley had left Australia On September 26th. Bradley was sailing to London with family.

Bradley had owned the same style car that witnesses had noticed the day of the kidnapping. Bradley had however sold the car. Police located the car and were able to link the car to Graeme. Police knew the man behind the crime.

The boat Bradley docked at Colombo, Sri Lanka and Bradley was met by two Sydney Sergeants. Due the Australian having no extradition treaty with Ceylon there was a lot of wrangling to get Bradley back. 18 November Bradley was finally flown back to Australia to pay for his crimes. Bradley was sentenced to life in prison and his appeal declined due to the strength of the evidence against him.

It was believed due to Bradley’s crimes his prison life would be difficult and he would be a target for inmates however this was not the case. Stephen Bradley passed away at the age of 42 in 1968. The Thornes relocated however never really recovered from the loss, Bazil passed away in 1978.

This crime changed the way of lottery procedures in Australia, winners now had the choice to remain anonymous.

Crime Journalist Alan Dower (1898-1980) had speculated that the original target was the daughter and youngest child of the family. Stating that due to her age if Bradley kidnapped and released her the girls information and account of the events would be poor. But due to the girls age she rarely left her parents so Graeme was the selected target.

[Photos by Ron Freeman » Fairfax Archives]

@acenewsservices
Categories
Ace History News

FEATURED U.K REPORT: Orkney Islands Archipelago off Coast of Scotland May Soon Be Part of Norway

This is our daily post that is shared across Twitter & Telegram and published first on here with Kindness & Love XX on peace-truth.com/ AceNewsRoom in Kindness & Wisdom provides News & Views @acenewsservices AceNewsDesk – A British outpost for 600 years, why Orkney Islands may soon be part of Norway The United Kingdom’s Orkney […]

FEATURED U.K REPORT: Orkney Islands Archipelago off Coast of Scotland May Soon Be Part of Norway
Categories
Ace History News

HISTORY TODAY: H.K Pro-Democracy Political Party ‘ Civic Party ‘ Established in 2006 Disbanded Over China’s Security

@acenewsservices

This is our daily post that is shared across Twitter & Telegram and published first on here with Kindness & Love XX on peace-truth.com/

#AceNewsRoom in Kindness & Wisdom provides News & Views @acehistorynews

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: May.28: 2023:

#AceNewsDesk – Explainer: A history of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Civic Party

@acenewsservices

The pro-democracy political party, which was established in 2006 as the city debated how its leaders might be elected, voted to dissolve on Saturday, marking a further blow to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

The pro-democracy political party, which was established in 2006 as the city debated how its leaders might be elected, voted to dissolve on Saturday, marking a further blow to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. 

article 23
The Civic Party, Hong Kong’s second-largest pro-democracy party, voted to dissolve on Saturday. HKFP takes a look at the party’s history. A banner against Article 23 security law. FIle Photo: HKFP/Ellie Ng.

The Civic Party was founded in March 2006 by key members of the Article 45 Concern Group, previously the Article 23 Concern Group.

The Article 23 Concern Group was established in late-2002 by legal professionals including senior counsels Denis Chang, Audrey Eu, Ronny Tong, and Alan Leong, and barrister Margaret Ng, to oppose a government proposal to legislate the city’s own security law.

The government’s attempt sparked mass street protests in 2003, and eventually led to the resignation of then-security chief Regina Ip. Local residents hold anti-Tung poster during an anti-Article 23 protest in Hong Kong, July 1, 2003.

July 1 2003 march demonstration protest
Ten of thousands of people took to the streets for a huge protest march against a controversial anti-subversion law to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the territory’s reversion to Chinese rule. Photo: Thomas Cheng/HKFP.

Following the administration’s failed legislation attempt, the concern group changed its name to reflect its focus on pushing for universal suffrage in the city, which was promised by article 45 of the Basic Law.

At the time of its establishment, the Civic Party had over 100 members, six of whom were lawmakers. It was often dubbed “the barrister party,” and was known for representing professionals and middle-class voters in the city. 

First democrat in chief executive election

Hong Kong saw its first pro-democracy candidate in the small-circle chief executive election in 2007, after Leong, then a lawmaker, secured enough nominations from pan-democrats to enter the race.

HONG KONG-ELECTIONS-CANDIDATE
Civic Party lawmaker Alan Leong attending a press conference on 29 January 2007. Photo: Samantha Sin/AFP.

Leong’s candidacy meant that Donald Tsang, who took over from former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa in 2005 after Tung resigned citing health reasons, had to take part in the city’s first chief executive election debate. The democrat received 123 votes to Tsang’s 649.

Five Constituencies Referendum 

Following the 2007 chief executive election, the party continued to call for universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

However, the Civic Party was embroiled in controversies in 2010, after it partnered with the League of Social Democrats (LSD), a more radical branch of the pro-democracy camp, for the Five Constituencies Referendum.

Five legislative councillors, including Leong and Tanya Chan from the Civic Party, and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, Raymond Wong, and Albert Chan from the LSD, resigned from the legislature to trigger a by-election. 

The parties saw the election as a makeshift referendum that would allow the public to express their views on whether to abolish the Legislative Council’s (LegCo) functional constituency seats, which were elected by registered voters in special interest groups.

HONG KONG-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY-ELECTION
(From left) Alan Leong, Raymond Wong, Tanya Chan, Albert Chan, and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung in a post by-election press conference on May 17, 2010. Photo: Antony Dickson/AFP.

Without any competition from pro-Beijing parties, the five democrats who resigned were re-elected to the legislature, but the by-election divided the pro-democracy camp and was criticised by the pro-establishment camp and some members of the public as a waste of taxpayers’ money. 

Extradition bill protests and national security

Following the eruption of the extradition bill protests in June 2019, the Civic Party saw its biggest victory in that year’s District Council elections, winning 32 seats. The pro-democracy camp secured a political triumph in that election, taking control of 17 out of 18 councils

Following the 2019 electoral success, several Civic Party members took part in an unofficial primary election in mid-July 2020 for the LegCo race that was scheduled to be held later that year. The primaries were part of the pro-democracy camp’s bid to gain a majority in the legislature. 

However, in late July, four Civic Party candidates were barred from running in the LegCo elections along with eight other democrats. Their nominations were deemed not in compliance with requirements including that candidates must uphold the Basic Law.

Civic Party
Civic Party members meet the press on July 30, 2020 regarding the disqualification of four members from the 2020 Legislative Council Election. Photo: Civic Party.

The LegCo election was eventually postponed in 2020 with the government citing Covid-19 health concerns. 

In November 2020, three Civic Party lawmakers – party leader Alvin Yeung and members Dennis Kwok and Kwok Ka-ki – were disqualified by the government along with Kenneth Leung of the accountancy constituency. 

The government ousted all four after the top decision-making body of China’s legislature passed a resolution which stipulated that lawmakers who promoted or supported Hong Kong independence and refused to admit China’s sovereignty over the city should be considered in breach of their oath of allegiance to Hong Kong.

Their disqualification led to the mass resignation of pro-democracy lawmakers, leaving the LegCo with no effective opposition.

Less than four months later, four Civic Party members were among the 47 pro-democracy figures charged under the Beijing-imposed national security law for their involvement in the unofficial primaries.

Yeung, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam, and Lee Yue-shun were among the democrats accused of conspiring to commit subversion. The four left the party following their prosecution, and Lee was the only one granted bail. Yeung, Kwok, and Tam have been remanded in custody since March 2021. 

The four former members penned a letter just over a month after they were charged calling for the party to disband.

47 democrats names memo stickers
The names of the 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures charged with conspiracy to commit subversion written on memo stickers. Photo: Supplied.

Citing disqualifications of Civic Party members from the legislature and its election, as well as a potential identical fate for members in the District Council, the four authors said: “the political truth written on the wall is that the Civic Party has completed its historical mission.”

The sweeping security law, enacted in June 2020, criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. 

The move gave police sweeping new powers, alarming democrats, civil society groups and trade partners, as such laws have been used broadly to silence and punish dissidents in China. However, the authorities say it has restored stability and peace to the city.

The city’s legislature also saw a drastic electoral overhaul in March 2021, with the National People’s Congress passing a resolution to ensure that only “patriots” govern Hong Kong. The decision reduced reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel to select candidates. 

The Civic Party, following the electoral overhaul, did not take part in the LegCo election in 2021. Jessica Leung, secretary general of the party, said after the NPC passed the decision that it would be worth discussing whether the parliamentary system was still a viable path for the pro-democracy camp.

Mass resignation and disbandment

The Civic Party took a further hit in mid-2021 as droves of District Councillors resigned from the party amid reports that the government would require members of the local bodies to take an oath of allegiance. Other Civic Party members left District Councils before the oath-taking took place, leaving the party with no District Council representation.

Civic Party Chairperson Alan Leong
Civic Party Chairperson Alan Leong meeting the press on May 27, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Discussions of disbanding the Civic Party arose after it struggled to find members willing to take up executive committee posts. None of the existing executive committee members wanted to stay for another term. 

Chairperson Leong said last October that it was a “very difficult situation” when he was asked if he could still see room in Hong Kong politics for the party. 

“I can only say this is a very difficult situation, that explains why, I think, all seven executive committee members expressed that they would want to step down, and also, as of now, nobody has stepped forward, wanting to take up the positions.”

With members passing a motion in an extraordinary general meeting on Saturday to wind the company up with 30 votes in favour and one vote to abstain, the history of the moderate democratic party officially came to a close.

Leong, in a statement issued after the meeting on Saturday, attributed the decision to wind up the party to a lack of succession to the group’s leadership and financial constraints, and said that “while the Civic Party has not accomplished what we set out to do, there is a time for everything.”

“The world is ever changing. History will tell. Today, the Civic Party is bidding Hong Kong farewell. We hope Hong Kong people will live in the moment with a hopeful and not too heavy heart. Live in truth and believe in tomorrow,” Leong’s statement read. 

@acenewsservices
Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links, and can also be found here on Telegram: https://t.me/acenewsdaily  and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and comment thank you 
@acenewsservices
Categories
Ace History News

HISTORY TODAY 1981: Pope John Paul II Survives Assassination Attempt Started Greater Security Including Popemobile

@acenewsservices

This is our daily post that is shared across Twitter & Telegram and published first on here with Kindness & Love XX on peace-truth.com/

#AceNewsRoom in Kindness & Wisdom provides News & Views @acehistorynews

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: May.13: 2023:

#AceHistoryDesk – This day in history, May 13, 1981: Attempted murder of pope ushered in host of new security reforms, including the now-famous popemobile

@acenewsservices

During his regularly scheduled Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope was shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca.

Eyewitness remembers John Paul II shooting
Pope John Paul II was shot and nearly killed on this day in history, May 13, 1981.

Ali Ağca fired a total of four times.

Two bullets hit Pope John Paul II in the abdomen and left hand, and the pontiff immediately collapsed, according to the History Channel.

Two others, a 60-year-old American woman named Ann Odre and a 21-year-old Jamaican woman named Rose Hill, were injured by the other two bullets, the same source also said.

Ali Ağca was quickly arrested. 

Pope John Paul II
@acenewsservices

The pope was rushed to Gemelli Hospital in Rome, undergoing five hours of surgery to save his life, said the History Channel.

“For the first time there is talk of terrorism even in the Vatican,” Vatican Radio reporter Benedetto Nardacci said during his live reporting of the General Audience. 

“We are talking about terrorism in a place where a message of love has always been transmitted, a message of harmony and a message of peace,” Nardacci also said, according to Vatican News.

Those messages of love and peace extended even to the pope’s hospital room during his recovery, that outlet noted.

John Paul II shot
@acenewsservices

Four days after the assassination attempt, speaking from his hospital bed, Pope John Paul II said he forgave “the brother who struck me.”

Pope John Paul II was released from Gemelli Hospital in August 1981, said Vatican News.

Following his release from the hospital, the Vatican adopted new security protocols to better protect the pope. 

Among these reforms included the “popemobile,” a bulletproof-glass enclosed vehicle that would transport the pope through crowds, said Vatican News.

popemobile John Paul II
@acenewsservices

Ali Ağca was sentenced to life in prison in an Italian prison for attempting to murder the pope.

On Dec. 27, 1983, Pope John Paul II met Ali Ağca, forgiving him to his face, reported Vatican News. 

“We met as fellow human beings and as brothers,” said Pope John Paul II after the meeting. 

John paul II gunman
@acenewsservices

Since we are all brothers and all the events of our lives must confirm the fraternity that comes from the fact that God is our Father,” he also said, as Vatican News reported.

A photo of their encounter was published on the cover of Time magazine, with the headline “Why Forgive?” 

Ali Ağca’s motives for the shooting remain murky at best. 

On the day of the attempted assassination, Ali Ağca had a handwritten note in his pocket reading, “I am killing the pope as a protest against the imperialism of the Soviet Union and the United States and against the genocide that is being carried out in Salvador and Afghanistan,” said the History Channel. 

pope assassin
@acenewsservices

He later claimed to have been part of a KGB plot, reported the Associated Press.

In June 2000, the Italian government officially pardoned Ali Ağca at the request of Pope John Paul II, reported Reuters. 

Ali Ağca was then extradited to Turkey, where he was imprisoned for the 1979 murder of a newspaper editor, that outlet said.

Ali Ağca was released from a Turkish prison in 2010, that outlet noted.

John Paul II credited the Virgin Mary for saving his life, as he was shot on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, said the National Catholic Register. 

John Paul II Fatima
@acenewsservices

In a visit to the Shrine of Fatima in Fatima, Portugal, on the first anniversary of the shooting, Pope John Paul II thanked Our Lady for sparing his life, and offered the bullet that nearly killed him as a gesture of thanks.

The bullet was then welded into the crown adorning the statue in an empty space under the crown’s eight arches, said the National Catholic Register.

“The bullet found the perfect fit in the empty space left in 1942 at the union of the eight stems that make up the Queen’s crown,” that outlet also said. 

He was then canonized, or officially declared a saint in the Catholic Church, by Pope Francis, along with his predecessor Pope John XIII, on April 27, 2014.

Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
Editor says …Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency is not responsible for the content of external site or from any reports, posts or links, and can also be found here on Telegram: https://t.me/acenewsdaily  and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and comment thank you 
@acenewsservices