Senior public servant one of two men charged with corruption offences relating to tender process for $150m Yatala Prison upgrade
Two people have been charged with corruption offences relating to the tender and procurement process for a $150m upgrade of a major Adelaide prison.
A senior public servant has been charged over allegations he colluded to “corrupt” a lucrative multimillion-dollar jail redevelopment for kickbacks, the state’s anti-corruption watchdog announced on Monday.
Authorities raided at least nine properties after an “extensive and long running” inquiry into alleged criminal fixing of a $150 million Yatala Labour Prison redevelopment in northern Adelaide.
In a statement to the media, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander, QC, said two men were arrested and warned of further arrests.
A senior Department for Correctional Services executive, 40, of Seaton, was charged with corruption-related offences along with another man, 47, from the Mt Gambier area.
Authorities will allege that between 1 June 2018 and yesterday the men “colluded to corrupt the tender and procurement processes … to financially benefit themselves”.
The bureaucrat has been suspended.
A department spokeswoman refused to say if he was still being paid.
Mr Lander said other people were aware of the jail executive’s alleged activities and warned of further arrests.
“I expect that those members of the business sector will co-operate with the ongoing investigation,” he said.
The State Government has launched an internal review of procurement process.
A DCS spokeswoman said the alleged offending as of “serious concern” and officials were co-operating with ICAC.
The men were bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.