Several Victorian public servants and Government contractors have been charged following an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) into serious corrupt conduct.
In a statement, IBAC said its investigation into serious corrupt conduct in V/Line and Metro Trains’ tendering and procurement processes, known as Operation Esperance, had resulted in a total of seven people being charged, including a former Chief Executive and a former manager.
IBAC said the former CEO of V/Line was charged with four charges of misconduct in public office, four charges of receiving secret commissions, and one charge of conspiracy to solicit secret commissions.
“Former Head of Fleet Operational Support at Metro Trains has been charged with one charge of receiving secret commissions and one charge of conspiracy to solicit secret commissions,” IBAC said.
It said two directors and two staff members from Transclean, a contracted cleaning company, were also charged following the investigation.
“A Transclean director has been charged with three charges of giving secret commissions and two charges of conspiracy to give secret commissions; and another Transclean director has been charged with conspiracy to give secret commissions,” it said.
“A Transclean staff member has been charged with one charge of conspiracy to give secret commissions and another Transclean staff member has been charged with one charge of giving secret commissions and one charge of conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice.”
IBAC said Operation Esperance also resulted in a lawyer to a Transclean staff member being charged with conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice.
It said the first court appearance would be in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 21 December.
