Editor, The West Australian, Sir: I welcome your report "State to pay big compo bill after confiscation case dropped" TWA, p1, by Sean Cowan.

Even though the Australian Crime Commission had not charged Nigel Cunningham Swift Mansfield with any offence, the State DPP decided to freeze all the assets of Mr Mansfield, and cause him and his family physical, psychological and financial hardship to such extent that the case went to the High Court of Australia. There the court considered the legality that the WA DPP would not release funds so that Mr Mansfield could properly defend his case, amongst other matters.

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The lesson for all States of Australia to learn from this case is the DPPs should not be eager to jump the gun before a formal charge is laid. If they can learn this, innocent people like Mr. Mansfield and his family would not have to suffer years of severe mental torture, as he did when this case dragged on for so long before the State DPP conceded that Mr. Mansfield had no case to answer.

I trust the compensation payout will take into account the almost eight years Mr Mansfield - and his family, and his daughter's education - has suffered.

I congratulate his legal team for their success; but I condemn the State for taking so long to bring the case to a close.

Brian G Tennant, Human Rights Campaigner
Civil Liberties Australia, Subiaco, Perth

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/6672804/state-to-pay-6m-compo-after-case-collapses/