Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Former Qld mayor to learn fraud trial fate
A magistrate will deliver his verdict following former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli’s fraud trial for allegedly misusing city council funds.
June 6, 2019
A former Ipswich mayor will learn his fate following a fraud trial for allegedly using council funds to buy goods and services for his own use.
Andrew Francis Antoniolli, 48, was tried in May on 12 counts of fraud and one count of attempted fraud following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation that led to the sacking of the entire Ipswich City Council in 2018.
The court heard Antoniolli had contravened council policy, instructed charities to lie on their donation request forms and hidden the purchases from the council.
His defence lawyer, Peter Callaghan SC, said the evidence painted a picture of a poor culture at the council but not criminality.
Antoniolli told his trial he followed an unwritten council policy communicated by senior staff when he successfully bid on items including a $5000 Trek bicycle, artworks, a signed rugby jersey and a gym membership between 2005 and 2017 while he was a councillor and mayor.
Mr Callaghan said the dishonesty charges – which Antoniolli denies – are also problematic because the payments actually went to local community groups and none of the items were for his personal use.
Some of the items Antoniolli bid on were not collected and others were left at the council chambers or re-gifted to other community groups, he said.
However, the bicycle was allegedly found at his home.
Magistrate Anthony Gett will deliver his verdict at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.