Five Transport Department officers face charges over credit card misuse

FIVE Transport Department officers — including two senior managers — face dozens of corruption-related charges following a long-running investigation by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander.

Editor’s Note: On July 28, 2016, prosecutors withdrew the allegations made against both Trent Rusby and Joe Rositano, resulting in the charges against them being dropped. At all times they denied the allegations. We have been informed by Mr Rusby that the South Australian Attorney General’s Department paid compensation for legal expenses.

FIVE Transport Department officers – including two senior managers – are accused of using government credit cards to buy and misappropriate an Aladdin’s Cave of electrical and consumer goods.

The men face more than 30 charges following an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into the department’s marine safety regulation division.

Goods worth tens of thousands of dollars – from electrical items, 4WD accessories, computer and camera equipment and outdoor clothing to building materials, tools and equipment and even pool carpet – were allegedly bought using government credit cards and then misapproriated.

The Advertiser is only able to report on the the investigation afterCommissioner Bruce Lander QC on Wednesday granted a “release’’ under section 56 of the ICAC Act, allowing publication. That section prohibits revealing the fact that such an investigation has been underway, unless a release is given either by Mr Lander or a court.

The Advertiser can reveal the investigation was launched over a year ago when “irregularities’’ were noticed during routine stocktaking of departmental assets.

After several months of intensive auditing by departmental and ICAC officers, five suspects were identified. In one instance, goods worth more than $50,000 were seized and removed from the Parkside house of one officer.

Four of the five officers were suspended and later questioned. Three of the officers have resigned from the department while the other two are still suspended.

Five Transport Department officers – including two senior managers – are accused of using government credit cards to buy and misappropriate an Aladdin’s Cave of electrical and consumer goods.

The investigation has resulted in a major overhaul of the department’s auditing processes to ensure their use is more closely managed and scrutinised.

The most senior of those charged is Trent Rusby, who held the position of Director of Transport Safety Regulation at the time of the alleged offending. He resigned last June.

Last July, he was appointed chief executive of Coober Pedy District Council, but held the position for just a month before his employment ended. He was also an elected member of the Alexandrina Council between 2006 and 2014.

Rusby, 48, of Wistow, has been charged with four counts of failing to act honestly and dishonestly taking property.

The charges relate to the alleged theft of clothing and a trip to Kangaroo Island in November, 2012, during which a government credit card was allegedly misused. Another senior officer charged is Joe Rositano, 52, of Smithfield, who was manager of marine services at the time of the alleged offending.

He resigned in June last year and now works for a marine assurance company. He is facing two counts of failing to act honestly in relation to the Kangaroo Island trip.

Another charged is Michael King, 44, of Parkside. He is a regional co-ordinator of marine compliance. King is facing a total of 23 charges – 22 of dishonestly taking property without consent and one count of failing to act honestly.

His charges relate to the alleged theft of goods including a camera, tripod and accessories, and the Kangaroo Island trip.

Oil spill officer Peter Braddock, 44, of Pooraka, has been charged with four counts of dishonestly taking property involving the alleged theft of a trailer.

Marine compliance officer Michael Fahy, 57, of Coonamia in the Mid-North, is facing three counts of failing to act honestly and dishonestly taking property involving the Kangaroo Island trip and the alleged theft of timber, cladding and an electronic keyless deadlatch.

The five charged men are expected to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on May 10.