This is a summary of IBAC announcements between January and April 2018 regarding our operations and prosecutions. For full media releases and statements, please see IBAC’s media releases.
IBAC announces scope of investigation into conduct of former Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police Professional Standards Command
IBAC announced the scope of its investigation into the conduct of former Police Assistant Commissioner Mr Brett Guerin in March. Operation Turon will examine Mr Guerin's conduct in posting inappropriate materials under various pseudonyms on social media. It will also examine the extent to which Mr Guerin's conduct, in his role as the head of Professional Standards Command or otherwise, may have affected the investigation and outcomes of matters where racism and other potential breaches of anti-discrimination or human rights law may have been relevant.
Allegations of theft from National Party accounts
IBAC received information from Victoria Police concerning allegations of possible corrupt conduct in relation to theft from National Party accounts in Morwell. IBAC assessed this information and has determined the allegations do not fall within its jurisdiction, and has advised Victoria Police of this decision.
Former VicRoads employee convicted of misconduct in public office
A former VicRoads employee appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in February and was convicted of misconduct in public office, following IBAC's Operation Baron investigation. This is the first successful prosecution for misconduct in public office since legislative changes were introduced in Victoria which strengthened IBAC's ability to investigate allegations of public sector corruption and misconduct.
Convictions for former council manager and consultant
A former council manager at the City of Ballarat was convicted and sentenced in the Ballarat County Court following an IBAC investigation, Operation Royston, into allegations of corrupt procurement transactions at the council. Lukas Carey pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception, attempting to commit an indictable offence and soliciting secret commission. He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and ordered to repay $31,200.
IBAC investigated allegations that Mr Carey subverted procurement processes and failed to fully declare and manage conflicts of interest when engaging suppliers on behalf of the council. IBAC uncovered that Mr Carey had allocated more than $184,000 of council consulting work to his friends and wife over a two-year period in exchange for money.
Jasmine Finnigan, a former consultant to the City of Ballarat and Mr Carey's wife, pleaded guilty and was convicted in the Melbourne County Court of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and attempting to commit an indictable offence. She was fined $3000 and ordered to repay $20,500.
Charges laid against a number of police officers
In February IBAC charged a Victoria Police Senior Constable with assault offences in relation to an incident at Moe Police Station in September 2017. The charges follow an 'own motion' investigation by IBAC. Court proceedings will commence at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in April.
In a separate matter, two Victoria Police officers have been charged by IBAC with assault following an IBAC investigation, Operation Mersey, into the conduct of the officers during an incident in the Southern Metro area in 2016. IBAC started the investigation in February 2017 and subsequently charged the pair in December 2017.
In March IBAC also charged a Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable with a number of offences, including seven counts of improperly taking advantage of a regulated person’s position, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, and one count of unlawful disclosure of Police information. The charges, which are the result of an investigation by IBAC, relate to alleged offending dating back to 2015. Court proceedings are scheduled to commence at Dromana Magistrates' Court in April.