SEVEN West Media CEO Tim Worner has slammed an Australian Federal Police raid on the company’s offices as “overkill”, saying he was disturbed the police were seeking access to news and corporate records.

There were “heated scenes” at Channel Seven’s Sydney headquarters today as its offices were raided by the AFP.

It is understood federal police were looking for evidence of the lucrative media deal the Corby family reportedly signed on behalf of Schapelle for her first post-prison interview with Seven’s current affairs flagship program, Sunday Night.

In a statement released early this evening, Mr Worner said he was surprised by the raids given the company and their lawyers had been cooperating fully with the AFP for the past week.

“The AFP has previously asked for information on Schapelle Corby and any contract we may have entered into, and we provided all the information requested from us and instructed our lawyers to provide any additional information they might have,” he said.

“The AFP did not seem to accept that we have not reached an agreement or understanding with Schapelle Corby.

Mr Worner said any interference in news reporting was “regrettable” and that the company remained committed to reporting matters of the public interest.

He said the company had responded to all AFP requests.

“We want to emphasise that at all times we have fully co-operated with the AFP in this matter. A raid on our offices at Pyrmont and at Pacific Magazines and at our lawyers’ offices involving around 30 police and eight squad cars to find information we have already provided seems like overkill to say the least.

“But what is most disturbing is to also seek to use search warrants to access all of our news and corporate records. This is without justification and quite possibly unprecedented for a media organisation.”

News_Rich_Media: This clip, broadcast by Seven News, shows an AFP officer warning the News crew that they are not to hinder investigations, in response to filming of the raid on the Seven West head office. Courtesy: Channel Seven

The AFP conducted a number of search warrants in Sydney under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The offices of New Idea, owned by Seven West Media’s Pacific Magazines, were also raided although the Sunday Night newsroom had not yet been visited.

In an official statement, the AFP confirmed it executed a number of search warrants.

“These search warrants were conducted in relation to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which provides the legislative framework for the restraint and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime against Australian law.

“This includes provisions for literary proceeds, where a person profits from their criminal notoriety.

“Literary proceeds action does not prevent a person from telling his or her story to the media. “The provisions do not interfere with freedom of speech.

“The purpose of the provision is to prevent a person deriving a financial benefit from criminal activity.

“The matter remains ongoing and it is not appropriate to comment further.”

CURSE OF THE CORBY FAMILY: IS SEVEN’S INTERVIEW DEAD?

SEVEN HITS BACK

Earlier today veteran Channel Seven journalist Mike Willesee hit out at the AFP raid on the network’s headquarters, saying it would not reveal anything because Schapelle Corby has not been paid.

While Mr Willesee did not deny a payment would be made to Corby, he attacked the media for repeatedly reporting a deal was worth $2 million.

“The first thing I want to say about the Australian Federal Police raid is that it will finally nail the lie of the two million dollar payment that’s been repeated and repeated in the Australian media.”

News_Image_File: Defending Seven ... Mike Willesee speaks with the media outside the Sentosa Seminyak Villa Resorts about the AFP raids and the reports of payments to the Corby family. Picture: Bradley Hunter

When asked the value of the potential interview deal, Willesee said “there is no deal”. Willesee said he has not spoken to Seven management about whether the interview will still go ahead.

“We’ve positioned ourselves to be the first in line if there is an interview. There is no deal,” he said.

“(The raid) will find nothing. They will find no payment because there is no payment.

“I’d be most surprised (if they found correspondence relating to payment) but I’m not privy to correspondence of people upstairs.”

But Mr Willesee did confirm he has had “interesting” conversations with Corby in her villa.

“I’m optimistic and certainly hopeful but there are a lot of balls in the air,” he said.

“She’s in good shape. Mental issues doesn’t mean that tomorrow you can plan and everything’s going to be OK.

“No I haven’t been talking with the Corbys about interviews or business. We’ve just been chatting.

“It was a private conversation. It wasn’t anything. But it was interesting.”

News_Image_File: Free at last ... Schapelle Corby walking around the back yard of her villa at the Sentosa Seminyak luxury villa resort. Picture: Bradley Hunter

The Australian newspaper today quoted Seven’s commercial director Bruce McWilliam saying the raids were “outrageous”.

He said a government minister had called him to apologise for the raids.

“It’s a big attack on the press. It’s terrible what’s happening,” the newspaper reported Mr McWilliam saying.

“It’s a gross overreaction. The government has called to say they did not know this was happening.”

“You’ve got some heavy-handed goon who thinks they can just come storming in and terrorise people who are trying to carry on their duties.”

News_Image_File: A big attack on the press ... Seven’s Commercial Director Bruce McWilliam talks to media outside the network’s offices.

Mr McWilliam also confirmed Seven would continue pursuing the story.

“Schapelle Corby’s story is of huge public interest ... Yes, we will keep pursuing the story,” he said.

He also confirmed that no deal had been reached with Seven and the Corby family.

“There has been no deal reached yet to get Schapelle Corby’s story ... no material payment made to Corby,” he said.

Mr McWilliam’s comments come as Mr Willesee said there is no deadline on how long the Seven crew will remain in Bali, waiting for a green light to conduct the controversial interview.

The raid came at an embarrassing time for the Seven West Media Group. Members of the board were delivering the company’s half-year results at a presentation at Doltone House, the function centre next door to Seven’s headquarters — detracting from the news its net profit after tax of $150m was up 5.5 per cent on the same period last year.

News_Image_File: Channel Seven raid ... by AFP officers in Sydney. Picture: Supplied

CEO Tim Worner announced the results alongside Dave Boorman (chief financial officers), Kurt Burnette (chief revenue officer), Nick Chan (chief operating officer) and Chris Wharton (chief executive of SWM WA).

Worner announced the company’s magazine division — publisher of New Idea, believed to be a partner in any media deal with Corby — was focused on delivering and leveraging leadership positions in key market segments “centred around peoples’ passions”.

“We are in an environment where everyone with a phone is a potential news gatherer. We are now seeing more news coverage and news pictures than ever before,” Worner said.

#BREAKING: AFP officers are currently raiding Seven West offices in an investigation into #Schapelle Corby proceeds. pic.twitter.com/mSUiliNff2 — 7News Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) February 17, 2014

Leaving Seven’s Martin Place offices in central Sydney, the normally outspoken Sunrise host David Koch had little to say to the waiting media before getting in a taxi.

Koch has been a vocal critic of Seven’s plan to do a deal with Corby.

“I reckon we should have nothing to do with her as a network. Totally disagree with paying a convicted drug smuggler $2 million,” Koch said on air last week.

When asked if the AFP’s raids on Seven offices vindicated his stance, Koch replied: “Not at all”.

News_Image_File: Three AFP cars ... sit outside the Channel 7 Redfern studios.