Lewis was also a close associate[6] of the corrupt former Police Commissioner Frank Bischof and was allegedly one of his bagmen.

"[7] In late 1975 then-Inspector Lewis was transferred to Charleville, at the same time Tony Murphy was posted to Longreach.

On 15 November 1976, the State Cabinet had rejected Whitrod's proposed candidates to replace Assistant Commissioner Gulbransen and instead selected Lewis, who had beaten 122 equal or more senior officers for the role.

[9] Former Royal Commissioner Donald Stewart observed that in 1976, Lewis "was plucked from well-deserved obscurity by Premier Bjelke-Petersen to be his vassal, to do his bidding, lawful or otherwise".

[13] After hearing evidence over five months and having deliberated for five days, a District Court jury found that, although Lewis had not lied to the inquiry, he had accepted bribes totalling $700,000 to protect brothels, SP (starting price) bookmakers, illegal casinos, and in-line machine operators and to prevent poker machines being legally introduced in Queensland.