Adrian Ernest Bayley, accused murderer in the Jill Meagher Brunswick case, has reportedly been tipped off that police was looking into his activities. He was also allegedly warned that his arrest could be imminent.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Magistrate Felicity Broughton on Thursday lifted restrictions on publishing photos of Bayley. (See Bayley's photo as published by The Age.) But the court has not lifted such ruling for social media networks, saying Bayley could lose his chance at a fair trial.

Meagher was buried at Fawkner Memorial Park on October 5. Prior to her funeral, an estimated 30,000 people marched along Sydney Rd to protest the assault against her. Meagher is believed to have been abducted while walking home alone in Sydney Road on September 22. (Watch video clip: CCTV footage of Meagher walking past a bridal shop, a few blocks from her home.)

Bayley, 41, is charged with raping and murdering the 29-year Meagher, who had gone missing before her body was recovered in a Melbourne suburb on September 28.

In a Herald Sun report, police had considered looking into an allegation that Bayley was tipped off by a public official hours prior to his arrest. However, The Australian noted no progress was made in the investigation.

In a situation like this, the Australian public is expected to react suspiciously.

Who is the public official who tipped off Bayley?

No authority has denied that the prime suspect in the Meagher murder case had been tipped off before he was arrested. But why did police authorities decide to not look further? Who are they protecting?

Bayley's next scheduled court appearance has been set on January 18, 2013.

Also read:

Jill Meagher: Man arrested for murder, sympathizers look back from her disappearance to locating her body [VIDEO]