TRUE CRIME
At the height of his powers in the 1980s, he robbed, bashed and dealt drugs across Sydney with impunity after being given a “green light” by corrupt NSW detectives. The deal meant Smith could do pretty much as he pleased – for a price. Millions changed hands as Smith, working with corrupt police, emerged as one of the biggest organised crime figures of the decade. Then it all went wrong. On a spring evening, a fight left a man dead. Then shortly before Christmas 1988, Smith was caught red-handed during an armed robbery. None of Smith’s police contacts would help – so Smith blew the whistle on more than a decade of corruption, sparking first a major inquiry, then a royal commission. Granted an indemnity against prosecution for any crime except murder, Smith’s extraordinarily frank account of his life, his misdeeds – and the corruption, violence and treachery of the Australian underworld – make this book unique. Smith makes no apologies and pulls no punches. Since his arrest in 1988, Smith has faced eight murder charges – and been convicted of two. He is now serving a life sentence in Long Bay Jail.
pp. 323 illusts. Updated reprint. #221124