A police officer accused of stealing three luxury watches and getting up to $100,000 for them has fronted court. Zac Aaron Chudleigh has appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court after being charged last month. The 29-year-old is facing one charge of stealing by persons in the public service and one charge of fraud - dishonestly obtaining property to the value of at least $30,000 but less than $100,000. The alleged stealing occurred between March and September 2022 and involved three luxury watches that came into his possession through his employment, according to court documents. Chudleigh is also accused of dishonestly obtaining $92,000 from Brisbane Estate Jewellery. In May police said a senior constable from the Crime and Intelligence Command had been charged with alleged stealing and fraud offences. He had been stood down from duty. Chudleigh, who is on bail, was self-represented for his first appearance and asked for an adjournment to seek legal advice. His charges are due to be mentioned again in the same court on July 10. The watches, seized during a raid at the Gold Coast home of Jordan Roman Brennan in August 2020, are the subject of Brisbane Supreme Court action against the State of Queensland. Brennan is seeking damages or recovery of watches that he argues in a statement of claim filed in March are valued at $410,085. The Crown Solicitor has filed a notice of intention to defend Brennan's action. The Commissioner of Police is not able to return three Audemars Piquet watches and one Hublot watch located during the search at the Robina property, the Crown Solicitor says in response. Australian Associated Press
