A vulnerable woman allegedly assaulted by two Ballarat police officers was also a serving member of Victoria Police arrested for public drunkenness while on sick leave last year, a hearing by the state's anti-corruption watchdog is expected to reveal.
Fairfax Media can reveal the alleged victim had served more than 30 years with Victoria Police, including a stint with the former Ethical Standards Department, which investigates corruption in the force.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission will begin its public examination on Monday, which is expected to include graphic footage from closed-circuit cameras inside the Ballarat Police Station where the woman was held for more than 16 hours before charges were laid.
The confronting video could corroborate claims the woman was kicked and stomped by a male and female officer as she huddled on the ground in handcuffs.
It is also alleged that the former policewoman was doused with capsicum spray, forcibly strip-searched in the presence of a male officer and thrown under a hot shower.
The police said to have assaulted her are alleged to have known she was also in the force.
But a contentious decision by IBAC to live-stream the public hearing to a Ballarat steak restaurant has incensed the powerful Police Association, which recently lost a High Court bid to block the anti-corruption watchdog from questioning the officers at a public hearing.
"If ever confirmation was needed that these IBAC hearings represent little more than a 'show trial' then its decision to live-stream these proceedings in a Ballarat licensed premises certainly provides just that.
"To treat these hearings as a form of entertainment is tasteless and shows appalling judgement," said Police Association secretary Ron Iddles.
An IBAC spokeswoman said a function room at the Ballarat Steakhouse had only been hired to provide additional room for the public to view the examinations, which was similar to arrangements for the recent royal commission hearings.
"The venue will not be operating as a restaurant at this time, and no food or beverage is permitted during the hearings," the IBAC spokeswoman said.
In December last year, an internal police investigation by Professional Standards Command found the two officers had not committed any criminal offences and overturned their suspensions.
But the investigation did find "a number of poor decisions were made in the management of a prisoner", which could still lead to disciplinary charges against the officers, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The findings of Professional Standards Command are in stark contrast to claims by IBAC's lawyer Ted Woodward, SC, who said "some of the conduct borders on gratuitous brutality".
In a submission to the Supreme Court of Appeals last September, Mr Woodward said the CCTV footage of the incident provided the "exceptional circumstances" that warranted a public hearing.
When arrested on January 14, 2015, the woman was on extended sick leave over claims of bullying by colleagues.
She was believed to have been intoxicated after drinking at a Ballarat hotel, when arrested and taken to the station where police conducted a mental health assessment.
The allegations to be tested during a five-day hearing in Ballarat are part of a broader investigation by IBAC's Operation Ross to determine if human rights violations had occurred at Ballarat Police Station, which has the state's worst record for complaints about excessive force.
Fairfax Media understands that at least three other woman have made complaints to IBAC about serious mistreatment at the hands of Ballarat officers.
Several officers based at Ballarat police station at the time of the incident are expected to be subpoenaed to give evidence at the public examination.
A Victoria Police spokesman declined to make any comment while the matter was under investigation.
