Public servant Paul Robinson used inside information to mastermind $150m Yatala Prison rort, court hears
For the first time, details about an alleged $150 million SA prison upgrade rort have been revealed in court. A top public servant and Mount Gambier tradie have been charged.
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A top public servant used inside information to set himself up as the “behind the scenes” mastermind of a multimillion-dollar prison cell rort, a court has heard.
For the first time, full details of the case against suspended Department for Correctional Services worker Paul Andrew Robinson have emerged in court.
On Tuesday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard allegations Robinson colluded with a plasterer, Matthew Laurie Patzel, to revamp prison cell design.
Leah O’Donnell, prosecuting, said the duo’s concept was born of Robinson’s inside knowledge of the State Government’s wishes.
“Robinson was employed by the Department in the role of asset services, and became aware of the redevelopment of Yatala Labour Prison,” she said.
“He had access to various confidential information that he disclosed to Patzel, which they used to design a modular prison cell.
“They completed a registration of interest with the intent to obtain a contract to manufacture the cell for Yatala to benefit themselves in the order of at least several million dollars.
“Robinson did not disclose his (conflicting) interest... Patzel was the front man, Robinson worked behind the scenes.”
Robinson, 40, of Seaton, is currently suspended from the Department for Correctional Services, and has served as Yatala Labour Prison’s general manager.
He has yet to plead to two counts of abuse of public office and one count of bribery or corruption of a public officer.
Patzel, 47, of Mount Gambier, is the managing director of MG Plasterers.
He has yet to plead to two counts of abuse of public office and one count of bribery or corruption of a public officer.
Prosecutors allege the offences occurred between June 1, 2018, and July 15, 2019.
The duo allegedly colluded to “corrupt” the tender process for Yatala’s $150 million redevelopment “in order to financially benefit themselves”.
In August, the court was told the case against the men spanned hundreds of thousands of documents, 40 electronic devices and 23,000 telephone intercept recordings.
On Tuesday, Ms O’Donnell asked the matter be adjourned until May.
Craig Caldicott, for Robinson, said that was unacceptable and called for the charges be dismissed.
“These men have been ‘on hold’ since July of last year ... my client has not been able to work,” he said.
Magistrate Greg Fisher refused to dismiss the case, granted the adjournment and remanded the duo on continuing bail until May.