Media Release - Operation Denali

Operation Denali

30 September 2022

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission undertook an investigation under Operation Denali.  On January 2021, the Commission executed a number of search warrants on serving NSW Police Force officer Sergeant Michael Mannah.  A brief of evidence relating to possible criminal offences was referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions by the Commission. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions provided advice that the officer be charged with the following counts:

Count 1: Use carriage service to access child abuse material, pursuant to Section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and

Count 2: Possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, pursuant to Section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

On 30 September 2022, a jury at the Downing Centre District Court returned a verdict of guilty on count 1 and not guilty on count 2. Mr Mannah was granted bail and will be sentenced at a later date. 

At the time of the offence Mr Mannah was a serving officer of the NSW Police Force. Mannah has since been dismissed from the NSW Police Force. 

The Commission did not prepare a report in Operation Denali and opted to refer the brief of evidence directly to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.