Sexual offences police examined over rape allegations against Stephen Milne THE Victorian anti-corruption watchdog is investigating police officers' handling of rape allegations against former AFL player Stephen Milne, it has been revealed in court. In the latest chapter of the long running saga, the Melbourne Magistrates Court today heard the new Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission had taken charge of documents relating to how Victoria Police detectives managed the case when the allegations were first made in 2004. Lawyers for Milne, who was charged with rape in June, have subpoenaed Victoria Police for the documents, but Morgan McLay, representing Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, said the documents were now with IBAC. He said Mr Lay objected to their release under section 183 of the IBAC Act, which bans disclosure of restricted material which had been passed to IBAC from the now defunct Office of Police Integrity. Mr McLay said the subpoena should instead be directed at IBAC, but Victoria Police also made a public interest immunity claim against some of the documents being released. He said there was an ongoing investigation into the conduct of the original sexual offences unit investigation. The case was abandoned in 2004 when the Director of Public Prosecutions decided the brief of evidence prepared by detectives would not support a conviction. The case was reopened last year following an Office of Police Integrity report which recommended a review of the evidence. Philip Dunn, QC, representing Milne, said it was "extraordinary" the defence couldn't be told what was going on at IBAC and who was "rotten in the barrel." "We say that's outrageous," he said, accusing Victoria Police of launching a media charm offensive after Milne was charged to protect itself over its handling of the case. We say Victoria Police have embarked upon a public relations exercise in relation to this matter. He singled out Mr Lay and assistant commissioner Stephen Fontana for radio interviews they gave "publicly and deliberately" trying to portray the force in a good light and gain a media advantage. The case returns to court next month ahead of a committal hearing for Milne in November.