A court case against Canberra Raiders player Josh Papalii has been dropped after a judge found police had abused legal processes by using an encrypted messaging app to discuss proceedings.

The 33-year-old was fighting three charges after an alleged incident at the Gungahlin Raiders Club last year, including intimidating police and refusing to leave a licensed venue.

But at an ACT Magistrates Court hearing on Friday, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker permanently stayed the case, meaning it will be dropped indefinitely, after finding police undermined the integrity of the prosecution by discussing the proceedings in a Signal chat.

Police alleged Papalii was behaving aggressively towards staff after being asked to leave the leagues club in Canberra's north during the early hours of Septembe

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