Public servant accused of accepting bribes following ICAC investigation
A public servant charged with corruption offences has faced an Adelaide court alongside the man accused of bribing him.
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A public servant charged with corruption offences has faced an Adelaide court alongside the man accused of bribing him.
Michael Charles Asker and Moujtaba Joubouri appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday following an investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.
Asker, 64, of Modbury Heights, has yet to plead to two counts of being a public officer who accepted a bribe in order to act or make an omission.
Joubouri, 25, of Northgate, has yet to plead to two counts of bribing a public officer to do an act or make an omission.
ICAC investigators allege the offences occurred between September 5, 2018 and December 1, 2018.
On Wednesday, the court did not hear any further details of the alleged corrupt conduct.
The court was told the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would keep conduct of the case rather than sharing it with SA Police as is normally done under the state’s controversial court efficiency measures.
Prosecutors asked the matter be adjourned until mid-June, saying there were more than 30 items of evidence still being assessed by investigators and experts.
They said those items included Joubouri’s phone, voice analysis of recordings made by listening devices installed by investigators and also DNA analysis.
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, said that was too long and risked the case becoming unwieldy.
“I think it’s worthwhile to bring it back into court in the meantime so that defence counsel can get more information abotu the case they have to answer,” she said.
“Given the nature of this matter, continued exposure to court is important.”
She remanded Asker and Joubouri on continuing bail to face court again in April.
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