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ICAC Operation Credo finds Obeid, Tripodi, Kelly engaged in corrupt conduct

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Category: Corrupt Politicians

Created: Thursday, 03 August 2017 10:20

Written by Louise Hall and Sarah Gerathy - ABC News

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has recommended charges be considered against former NSW Labor ministers Eddie Obeid Snr, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly, after finding they engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

The ICAC found Mr Kelly and Mr Tripodi used their ministerial positions to push for Australian Water Holdings (AWH) to be awarded a lucrative government contract, which the watchdog says would have financially benefited the Obeid family.

The report on the investigation, known as Operation Credo, was released in Sydney on Thursday morning, more than three years after the commission wrapped up its public hearings.

It found Mr Tripodi was "doing Mr Obeid's bidding" and he "sought to improperly influence" Mr Kelly to present a doctored Cabinet minute recommending the government enter direct negotiations with AWH.

Political staffer Gilbert 'Laurie' Brown was also found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

The ICAC recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions consider charging the four men with misconduct in public office, which is a criminal offence carrying a jail term.

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said he hopes "the book gets thrown at them".

"There's plenty of spare beds down at Cooma jail waiting for them."

Sinodinos hails end of 'long and comprehensive' inquiry

However, no adverse findings were made against federal frontbencher Arthur Sinodinos, a former director, deputy chairman and chairman of the AWH board.

Senator Sinodinos was forced to stand aside as assistant treasurer during the public hearings, after damaging headlines about his time with the company.

He was grilled in the witness box about tens of thousands of dollars AWH donated to the NSW Liberals when he was the party's honorary treasurer, but which were billed to Sydney Water by the company.

He used the phrase "I don't remember" or "I don't recall" more than 50 times during his evidence, but has not been the subject of any adverse comments in the report.

"I note that the ICAC has made no adverse findings or commentary against me in Operation Credo," Senator Sinodinos said in a statement.

"This brings to an end a long and comprehensive process.

"I thank my family and colleagues for their support throughout."

Ministers 'misused position'

The ICAC found between late 2007 and 2010, Obeid misused his position as an MP to promote AWH's interests knowing his family stood to benefit financially should they acquire shares in the company.

Further, the ICAC found in 2010 he misused his position to advance his family's interests by working towards the submission of a minute to the Budget Committee of Cabinet recommending the NSW government enter direct negotiations with AWH, without disclosing the potential financial benefits.

Mr Kelly was found in 2010 to have misused his office as a minister by arranging for the preparation and submission of a minute to the budget committee that would have enabled AWH to enter direct negotiation with the Government over its public-private partnership proposal for water infrastructure in Sydney's north-west.

Mr Tripodi was found to have misused his position as an MP by preparing a draft document for Mr Brown and Mr Kelly to use as the basis for the minute.

The commission found Mr Tripodi and Mr Brown, Mr Kelly's then-chief of staff, both acted with the intention of improperly favouring Obeid.

Obeid and Mr Tripodi were the leaders of the Terrigals faction - a splinter of the right wing of the NSW Labor Party - and the commission found that, given the closeness of their relationship, it was likely Mr Tripodi knew the Obeids were interested in investing in AWH.

Further, it found he knew approving the public-private partnership (PPP) would increase the value of the company.

It rejected Mr Tripodi's denial that he drove the PPP proposal on behalf of the Obeids.

"Mr Tripodi was improperly motivated by a desire to provide an outcome favourable to AWH because he understood that was what [Eddie] Obeid wanted."

Whether the Obeid family acquired a financial interest in AWH was at issue during the hearings, with the Obeids maintaining that a $1 million payment in November 2010 and a $2 million payment in late 2011 pursuant to a heads of agreement were loans.

However, the commission found the payments were for the purchase of shares and the Obeid family were trying to keep their investments secret.

O'Farrell's 'massive memory fail' accepted

No adverse findings were made against Barry O'Farrell, who sensationally resigned as NSW premier during the public hearings in April 2014.

Mr O'Farrell gave evidence on April 16, 2014 that he did not receive a $3,000 bottle of wine from AWH's former chief executive and chairman Nick Di Girolamo.

A handwritten thank-you note handed to the commission the following day contradicted Mr O'Farrell's evidence.

Recalled to the witness box, Mr O'Farrell maintained he had no recollection of receiving the wine, describing it as a "massive failure of memory".

In its findings, the commission said it was satisfied Mr O'Farrell did not intend to give misleading evidence, nor did he ever accede to any request from Mr Di Girolamo or anyone else to give special assistance to AWH.

Premier welcomes findings

In a statement, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian welcomed the findings, saying three former Labor ministers have now been found to be corrupt.

"This is yet another example of the way the former Labor government held the people of NSW in contempt and ran the state to line its own pockets," Ms Berejiklian said.

She said the ICAC made no adverse findings against anyone in the NSW Liberal Party.

Kristina Keneally, who was NSW premier in 2010 and 2011, said the attempts by Obeid, Mr Tripodi and Mr Kelly to lobby her failed when she ordered the Cabinet minute be withdrawn.

Obeid is currently serving a prison sentence for misconduct in public office arising from the commission's investigation into his family's secret business dealings at Circular Quay. He has appealed his conviction and sentence.

He has also been committed to stand trial alongside his son Moses Obeid for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office following the commission's investigation into the granting of coal exploration licences in the Bylong Valley.

The public hearings took place in 2014 however the publication of the findings were delayed by various legal proceedings and resulting amendments to legislation covering the ICAC.

"The NSW Government has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and we have implemented a range of measures to reflect this," Ms Berejiklian said.

In a statement provided by his lawyer, Obeid strenuously denied the allegations contained within the Operation Credo report.

Source : http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-06/vote-compass-federal-icac-abcc/7474810