Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
More charges over alleged WA public servant corruption
Western Australia’s Department of Communities has been tied to corruption with allegations involving an employee and a former contractor.
May 16, 2023
Two men face corruption charges after a West Australian government employee allegedly awarded a contractor millions of dollars of work in exchange for cash and a luxury car.
The men, aged 62 and 66, are charged with two counts each of public officer acts corruptly in performance or discharge of function, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.
Police allege a former Department of Communities employee was given tens of thousands of dollars and a BMW car after awarding a civil works company government contracts in 2018 and 2019.
It’s alleged the public servant took a second job with a civil works company managing country housing and construction projects without advising the government.
The man also allegedly awarded projects to the company he worked for and chaired a tender selection panel that delivered high-value contracts without disclosing his conflict of interest.
Police allege the man was given $70,000 in 2018 after awarding the civil works company a contract worth more than $1.8m.
He allegedly also received a BMW sedan worth $18,000 and a $10,000 payment in 2019 after awarding the company four contracts worth more than $350,000.
The second man charged was an employee of the civil works company.
Both men are due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The charges were laid as part of an ongoing investigation into corruption and fraud involving contractors and employees at the department.