SA ex-funeral director charged with fraud

A FORMER funeral director has been arrested for allegedly submitting fraudulent funeral bond claims to insurers.

The 45-year-old man, who has been charged with 119 counts of fraud, has been granted bail to appear in Adelaide magistrates court on March 3.

Police allege that the man arranged prepaid funeral bonds on behalf of clients between 2008 and 2013.

He then allegedly submitted fraudulent funeral bond claims to insurers, falsely claiming that the policy holder clients had died.

Police have advised people who are concerned about their prepaid funeral bonds to contact their funeral director, insurer or the Funeral Directors Association for further advice.

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Indonesia warns anew on boat turnbacks

INDONESIA has again warned the federal government against asylum-seeker turnbacks following reports the Australian Navy secretly turned around at least one boat in recent weeks.

Reports from Indonesia and Australia say an Ashmore Island-bound boat was turned back either in December or on Monday - or possibly on both occasions - and subsequently became stranded on Rote Island, near West Timor.

The Indonesian reports quoted local police, while Fairfax Media cited unnamed Australian Defence sources and the Indonesian water police.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison would not comment on the conflicting reports for "operational security reasons", despite the coalition having a pre-election policy to turn boats back when safe.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa also refused to comment on the specifics when asked about the reports on Tuesday.

"But as a policy, I shall repeat this once again: Indonesia rejects and is against the policy of boat turnbacks because it's not a solution," he told reporters in Jakarta, speaking in Indonesian.

Agus Barnas, a spokesman for Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Security - which has responsibility for people smuggling - said he was unaware of any turnbacks.

He said Indonesia was still observing a moratorium on co-operating with Australia on people-smuggling after last year's spying scandal.

"So far, there's no policy that the co-operation would resume," Mr Barnas said.

"The talk on forming a code of conduct is still in process."

Speculation about possible boat turnbacks follows a stand-off in November when Australia tried to force a vessel back into Indonesian waters.

The Abbott government backed down after Indonesia refused to accept the asylum seekers, who were eventually transferred to Christmas Island.

Mr Morrison says that Australia respects Indonesia's territorial sovereignty "and will continue to do so".

"It is not the policy or practice of the Australian government to violate Indonesian territorial sovereignty," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dr Natalegawa said Indonesia's relationship with Australia was still in a "difficult phase" in the wake of the spying revelations.

But he said he was in daily contact with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in an effort to repair the damage.

"What's needed is a gradual process of restoration of confidence or trust, and this is where we are just now," he said.

The Greens want Mr Morrison to provide details of any turnback operation, saying the lives of asylum seekers could have been endangered.

"These people could have drowned," Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"How many other boats has this occurred to that we've never heard about?"

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Families tell of Vic explosion horror

THE families of three police officers badly injured in an explosion at a Melbourne flat say they are extremely proud of their loved ones and horrified at what happened.

Sergeant Tony Scully, First Constable Emma Quick, and a female constable known as "Varli" were injured alongside two firefighters and a resident in an explosion at the Middle Park flat on Saturday night.

They had been responding to reports of a man threatening self-harm when there was a blast caused by an exploding gas bottle.

Both constables remain in a serious but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital after undergoing surgery on Monday.

Sgt Scully's wife Mitzi said she was proud of all her husband had achieved during his 34 years as a police officer.

"It is typical of Tony that he should get injured in this way - helping a person when they needed help," she said in a statement on Monday.

Sgt Scully, 51, is in a stable condition.

Constable Varli, 32, graduated from the academy last July, while Constable Quick, 28, has only been a police officer since 2011.

Constable Varli's parents Kathy and Tony said being a police officer was the fulfilment of a 10-year dream.

The families of all three officers issued a joint statement expressing their gratitude to those who had helped.

"We would like to send our thanks to Victoria Police, the hospital staff who have worked so hard to help our loved ones, and those kind and caring people who all helped out at the scene," they said.

"This has been a deeply distressing experience for all of us.

"We are horrified that this has happened."

Firefighter Andrew Wood has received praise for his bravery and actions in the aftermath of the explosion.

Mr Wood suffered facial injuries in the blast, but pulled two police from the explosion scene before going back in to save a third officer.

United Firefighters Union president David Hamilton commended Mr Wood and said he was doing his job.

"We're mandated to protect life and property and Andrew has done a sterling job," he told AAP.

"I mean it is extraordinary that he has put himself in that situation, but I don't think there are any firefighters that would have done anything else.

"With Andrew his training kicked in: he didn't consider himself, he considered his job as a firefighter to help people in need and in particular to help the police members."

Fellow firefighter Wayne Sheridan was also injured in the explosion after being showered with glass.

Both Mr Wood and Mr Sheridan have been released from hospital and are recovering at home.

The 40-year-old male resident remains in a serious but stable condition at The Alfred Hospital and is under police guard.

Police believe it was a suicide attempt gone wrong and not a trap for emergency services workers.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 100 659 467.

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WA prison escapees face court

A RAPIST and a remand prisoner recaptured after two nights on the run in remote Western Australia have faced court charged with escaping custody, aggravated robbery and stealing a vehicle.

Rapist Cameron John Graham, 22, and Kelden Edward Fraser, 23, who was on remand, escaped while being transferred from Greenough Regional Prison in Geraldton, in the state's Mid West, back to Perth on Friday afternoon.

Graham was jailed in November for 11 years for breaking into a woman's home and repeatedly raping her. He had been sent to Geraldton to be closer to his family at Christmas.

The prisoners were not handcuffed and the door of the van was not locked.

They allegedly stole a car and were captured at 1am (WST) on Sunday when police used a plane to find their camp around Mullewa, near Geraldton.

Both appeared in Geraldton Court via video link from Greenough Regional Prison on Monday and will appear again on January 30.

Meanwhile, the father of Graham's victim has spoken on her behalf, saying the family felt let down by the justice system and the state government.

"This person breaks in and commits this horrendous crime and yet he gets the privileges," he told The West Australian newspaper.

"He's sent to Geraldton at the taxpayers' expense to be near family, yet my daughter - who is the victim in this crime - can't be near her family.

"She has to be overseas away from her family because she's too terrified to be in this country."

Graham threatened to murder the woman's sleeping children before repeatedly raping her and forcing her to drive to an ATM to withdraw cash.

The woman's father said she could not be on her own any more and was on antidepressants.

"It's put a strain on her relationship with her husband, it's affected the children, it's affected the whole family," he said.

The cost of the operation to capture the escapees has not yet been revealed, but the state government may bill Serco, the company responsible for prisoner transport.

Prisoners can be temporarily transferred to another facility to maintain family relationships if it is deemed helpful to their rehabilitation.

But Corrective Services minister Joe Francis told AAP someone had made a "very, very dumb" decision in allowing this transfer, and said Serco had failed in its obligations.

He said he would try to contact the woman to apologise.

Serco is investigating the incident.

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Sydney woman victim of chemical attack

A severely burnt woman discovered in Sydney bushland claimed she was a victim of a chemical attack. Source: AAP

A SEVERELY burnt woman discovered crying for help in Sydney bushland claimed she was a victim of a chemical attack.

A resident on Ferraro Crescent at West Hoxton heard cries for help from nearby bushland on Friday night.

Police found Monika "Nikki" Chetty with extensive burns to her face and body.

Police have released Ms Chetty's name in the hope someone who knows her will come forward.

It is believed Ms Chetty suffered from the injuries for days before she was found.

Green Valley Police Detective Superintendent James Johnson told Fairfax Media Ms Chetty claimed a man threw chemicals at her in Liverpool a week earlier.

Det Insp Johnson said it was the most unusual thing he had seen in his 41-year career.

"It's horrific," he said on Saturday.

Police believe Ms Chetty was homeless.

She is currently in the Concord Burns Unit in a critical condition.

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Qld cop dragged 200m by car

A police officer is recovering after being dragged 200 metres along a road by a car in Townsville. Source: AAP

A POLICE officer is recovering after being dragged 200 metres along a road by a car in central Townsville.

Police will allege the driver of the car grabbed the officer's arm after he leant into the car to breath test the driver about 2.40am on Saturday.

The driver then drove about 200m before the 45-year-old officer managed to free himself.

The officer was allegedly elbowed twice in the face.

He has been treated in hospital for a cut to his head and eye, a chipped tooth and multiple abrasions and bruising.

The 23-year-old driver was later involved in a police car chase and has been taken into custody.

Charges are yet to be laid.

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Fortescue operations resume after death

Operations have resumed at Fortescue Mining Group's Christmas Creek mine after a contractor's death. Source: AAP

SURFACE mining operations have resumed at Fortescue Metals Group's Christmas Creek mine, four days after the death of a contractor.

The man was carrying out maintenance on a large piece of mining machinery in the Pilbara mine's heavy vehicle workshop when the accident occurred on Monday.

Surface mining operations at Christmas Creek were suspended as WA Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectors carried out a site investigation.

It is the second death at the iron ore mine in less than five months.

The DMP also issued special directions ensuring that Fortescue tightens safety procedures at all of its operations, including lock out/tag out procedures, ahead of a safety audit.

Fortescue said the heavy vehicle workshop was "released" by the coroner and DMP safety inspectors on Thursday, and will now be brought back into service.

The company is now reviewing safety isolation and lock out/tag out procedures.

DMP Director General Richard Sellers said the department was conducting a thorough investigation into the Christmas Creek death and Fortescue was assisting inspectors with investigations.

Another worker who suffered leg and hand injuries in the incident has been released from Royal Perth Hospital.

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NSW posts big reduction in road deaths

NSW police say fewer people have died on the roads in 2013 compared with any year since 1924. Source: AAP

NSW in 2013 recorded its lowest road toll for 89 years, but police are warning drivers not to become complacent.

And fewer people died on the state's roads over the holiday period than in previous years, with 10 fatalities throughout NSW Police's Operation Safe Arrival period from December 20 to January 2.

The toll is seven down on the same period in 2012-2013 when 17 people died in 15 crashes.

The Operation Safe Arrival period is separate from the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board's national road toll period, which started at midnight on December 23 and ends at midnight on January 3.

NSW police carried out 571,664 breath tests and issued 960 drink-driving charges during Operation Safe Arrival.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said despite the road toll reduction, there was still unacceptable loss of life on NSW roads.

"We can't become complacent because we have seen a massive reduction in road injury and road death," she told reporters on Friday.

"It really is now the crucial time for us to focus on keeping this road toll as low as we possibly can."

The overall road toll for 2013 of 339 is the lowest since 1924, Ms Burn said.

About 11,540 speeding infringements were also detected over the Christmas-new year period - about 400 more than the same period in 2012.

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, of the NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol, said the highway patrol had resources on every highway and backstreet in NSW.

While the traffic blitz might be over, police are expecting heavy traffic over the weekend as people return home from holidays.

"Certainly tomorrow will be the day it is change over for accommodation down the coast in NSW," Mr Hartley said.

"So it will be very busy coming out of the city tomorrow and coming in.

He said while the operation in name has stopped, "all the resources are still out there to make sure people get the message".

NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher said there was no excuse for people not heeding the message from police about speeding and drink driving.

"Quite simply when you see these statistics you really wonder why is it that people are not heeding the message during a period of double demerit points in particular ..." he said.

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Bondi shooting victim in Brothers 4 Life

A MAN found on the streets of Bondi with a gunshot wound in his shoulder has been linked to the Brothers 4 Life gang.

The 31-year-old is also believed to have been on a boat at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs on New Year's Day when it was shot at from the shore, police say.

Peppered with bullets, the boat left the wharf but was stopped by police a short time later and towed to Balmain.

The boat, the OSCAR II, is a 105-foot luxury motor yacht available for hire for more than $2000 an hour, Fairfax Media reported on Thursday.

Less than two hours after the shooting, a 31-year-old was discovered at Lamrock Avenue opposite Bondi Beach with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

The man is believed to be a member of the Brothers 4 Life gang, which is linked to recent shootings throughout Sydney.

A witness said he spoke to the injured man before police arrived.

"We just walked past and this guy's just said, 'Man, I've been shot in the back,' and these coppers just showed up and they've taken over the scene," the man told Fairfax Media.

Emergency services took him to St Vincent's Hospital, from where he has since discharged himself, police say.

It is understood he is not co-operating with police.

Residents of Sydney's west and southwest witnessed gang violence this year as feuds between Brothers 4 Life members erupted in shootings.

The group was founded by Bassam Hamzy, who was jailed in 1998 for the murder of Kris Toumazis outside the Mr Goodbar nightclub in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst.

He has had his jail time increased after orchestrating kidnappings and assaults and running a drug ring from within prison.

A man believed to be his cousin was shot dead in Revesby last year and another man, Omar Ajaj, suffered multiple bullet wounds in the attack.

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Vic saved from scorching heat

Southerly winds are protecting Victoria from a blast of desert heat that's baking other states. Source: AAP

VICTORIANS could be putting on jackets and dodging rain clouds while some parts of the country sweat through record-breaking temperatures.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Terry Ryan says Victoria won't be hit by the blast of hot desert heat that's struck elsewhere.

"We're protected by this generally southwest to southerly air flow," he said on Thursday.

"We've got nothing here that's very hot at all."

Melbourne only reached a high of 20C by midday on Thursday with temperatures forecast to stay between a low of 12C and a high of 24C during the next five to six days.

Even in the far north, Mildura reached the state's highest temperature of 25.5C at 1pm (AEDT).

The town isn't forecast to break above 30C until Wednesday.

A band of rain has also been crossing the state as the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine is picked up by southerly winds.

Scattered showers are forecast in Melbourne over the next five days.

Victoria's fire danger ratings have also dropped to low across northern parts of the state.

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