00:00Approaching the end of an eight-year legal battle.
00:05An emotional time for Richard Boyle and his supporters.
00:09The former Australian Tax Office debt collection officer
00:12became an internal whistleblower in October 2017
00:15after becoming concerned about operations,
00:18including allegations of heavy-handed tactics
00:21on taxpayers who owed the ATO money.
00:24Back in May, he pleaded guilty to disclosing
00:27and making a record of protected information,
00:30using a listening device to record private conversations
00:33and recording another person's tax file number.
00:36Supporters on many occasions have called for the case to be thrown out.
00:40There's a great injustice in all of this
00:42and it's really shameful that the ATO has continued to pursue this.
00:47In court, his defence asked the judge to consider
00:50that Mr Boyle has no prior convictions
00:52and believed he was acting in the public's interest.
00:55They also outlined the significant personal and financial impact
00:59of the ongoing legal action,
01:01saying Mr Boyle is suffering from depression and PTSD.
01:05Richard has been dragged to hell and back.
01:08Mr Boyle's defence also said he's remorseful
01:11and has a low risk of re-offending.
01:13I'm hoping that her honour will simply make a no-conviction ruling
01:20and then Richard can get on with his life.
01:24The prosecutors want the judge to record a conviction.
01:27They described Mr Boyle's actions as a serious breach of the law
01:30and said prison time is warranted,
01:32but they're not opposed to it being suspended.
01:35Mr Boyle shook his head from the dock
01:37as the prosecution disputed elements of his remorse.
01:40The judge will hand down her sentence later this month.
01:44Mr Boylebox.
01:46Mr Boyle's court is a completely dead body.
01:50The judge has not taken away from the court,
01:52and the judge has not done his agreement.
01:54There is a judge here and thinks that Mr Boyle was not a problem.
01:56Yes.
01:57He is not a judge in the court.
01:59Mr Boyle, he is a judge with the jury's work.
02:00The judge has not taken away from the court.
02:02The judge has not taken away from the court.
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