A former Australian Government executive is scheduled to face court today for allegedly fraudulently using government funds to make more than $400,000 worth of personal purchases, Australian Federal Police say.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will allege in court that the 44-year-old former Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) executive abused his position and resources to facilitate the illegal purchase of multiple personal items, including: a car, jet-ski, television, computer, tablet, smart-phone, clothes, a fitness tracker, and a high-quality road bicycle.
AFP officers conducted a search of the man’s Griffith home on Tuesday, 18 July 2017, seizing a number of items of evidence.
The investigation was launched after the alleged purchases were flagged by CSIRO internal processes and referred to the AFP
AFP acting Commander Criminal Assets, Fraud and Anti-Corruption, Kate Ferry, highlighted the importance of stamping out this kind of abuse of public office.
"Australian taxpayers put their trust in public officials to perform vital roles for our community. The alleged conduct of this man is an abuse of public office, and the AFP owes it to the community to investigate and prosecute such matters to the full extent of the law," she said.
The 44-year-old man is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court today on the following charges:
- Dishonestly causing a loss to the Commonwealth, contrary to subsection 135.1(3) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
- Intentionally making a false statement in a statutory declaration, contrary to section 11 Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth).
- Abuse of public office contrary to subsection 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
- Using forged document contrary to subsection 145.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offences the man has been charged with is imprisonment for 10 years.
