Former Renewal SA boss John Hanlon spent tens of thousands on travel and dining, prosecutors claim
A one-time senior SA public servant executive spent tens of thousands on overseas travel, fine dining and hotels and used a post-it note in his alleged fraud, prosecutors allege.
Police & Courts
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Emails, government memos and a single post-it note are central to the corruption charges filed against former Renewal SA boss John Hanlon, court documents allege.
Adelaide Magistrates Court documents released to The Advertiser on Thursdaydetail the corruption case against Hanlon and co-accused, former agency executive Georgia Vasilevski.
The papers allege Hanlon visited Berlin, Germany and Melbourne, stayed in Grand Hyatt hotels and ate at groundbreaking Thai restaurant Longrain, then improperly charged the bills to Renewal SA.
They further allege he used the agency’s own stationery to facilitate the fraud, including a post-it note.
Hanlon, 62, of Goodwood and Vasilevski, 44, of Henley Beach, were charged following an 18-month investigation by ICAC.
They have yet to plead to counts of abuse of public office, acting dishonestly and dishonestly dealing with documents.
Following their first court appearance this week, Hanlon and Vasilevski’s counsel said their clients would be contesting the charges, with Hanlon calling them “nonsense” outside court.
In the papers, Hanlon is accused of 11 offences spanning from September 7, 2017, to September 24, 2018.
He allegedly spent $20,469.72 on a trip to Berlin, Germany - $17,273.33 in airfares and 1555 euros, or $3196.39, in other expenses.
Hanlon is further charged with having improperly spent $3521.32 on a trip to Melbourne in October and November 2017.
It is alleged he spent $3464.10 on accommodation at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, and on dinners at Longrain and Donovan’s Restaurant, and $57.73 on taxis.
Prosecutors allege Hanlon deceptively dealt with “a Renewal SA travel booking and claim form”, a “Renewal SA memorandum” and “a post-it note” in the course of his offending.
He allegedly also used a Grand Hyatt invoice and “a Hyatt hotel email”.
Vasilevski is charged with four offences spanning from October 31, 2017, to January 5, 2018.
It is alleged she improperly spent $1032.60 on “airfares, accommodation and taxi expenses” in an undisclosed location, and acted dishonestly on three subsequent occasions.
The duo will face court again in June.