QLD: Former Premier reveals death threats

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2000
QLD: Former Premier reveals death threats

Former Queensland Premier MIKE AHERN says his daughters received death threats during
a failed multi-million dollar extortion bid against him in 1988.

Mr AHERN says the alleged incident was kept secret on the advice of two senior police officers.

He wouldn't elaborate on the alleged threats against his four daughters, who were in
their teens at the time.

The man making the threats allegedly demanded payment of millions of dollars and immediate
release from a security hospital.

Mr AHERN says he was unaware a 54-year-old man had recently been arrested over the
matter until contacted by the media.

Ipswich police today confirmed a man was arrested on July 3 on a warrant issued in 1988.

A police spokesman says the charge is menacing a government agency.

Mr AHERN took over as Queensland Premier from Sir JOH BJELKE-PETERSEN in 1987.

The 58-year-old quit politics in 1990 after the state election loss to Labor the previous year.

The man is scheduled to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court tomorrow for a committal
callover.

AAP RTV geb/sc/smf/jn

KEYWORD: EXTORTION (BRISBANE)

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