Sergeant Rick Flori a 25-year veteran of the Queensland Police Force was suspended earlier this year after being accused of leaking footage of the brutality.
The incident took place in 2012, during the arrest of Noa Begic for public nuisance and obstructing police.
Begic’s blood is then washed away with a bucket of water by a senior-sergeant.
After leaking the video to the Courier Mail, Flori was charged with “misconduct in public office,” for blowing the whistle on the misconduct.
The officers who participated in the beating were subject to an internal investigation, however, only two faced any disciplinary action and none were charged criminally.
All charges against Begic were dropped, and he also received a settlement from the department for an undisclosed amount.
“How is it that the police who were shown on the video as belting the crap out of this particular person have not been charged and yet the person who has leaked it is now being charged with an offence which could put him in jail?” Council of Civil Liberties Deputy President Terry O’Gorman asked the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Flori faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty.
