The CCC charges against Ipswich Mayor Andrew Antoniolli

SOURCES have revealed details of the accusations levelled at the Ipswich Mayor as he faces fraud charges.

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ANDREW Antoniolli’s fraud charge includes allegations the Ipswich Mayor used council funds to buy a bicycle at a charity auction.

Sources have confirmed to The Courier-Mail investigators quizzed a local bike store about Cr Antoniolli in recent weeks.

Another source close to local government said the charge related to a bike, which is believed to have been bought by Antoniolli for about $5000 at an auction and was later found by the CCC.

It was last month reported in the Queensland Times that the Crime and Corruption Commission had seized a bicycle, which was understood to have been stored at Cr Antoniolli’s old divisional office.

The council was at the time reported to be scrambling to audit and “properly collate and record” about a dozen items bought by Cr Antoniolli over the past several years using his own or ratepayers’ money, according to the Queensland Times.

Cr Antoniolli at the time acknowledged some items purchased using council funds had not been properly recorded - including a bicycle, worth about $500.

“I can put my hand on heart and say they’ve always been council property,” he said at the time.

Cr Antoniolli could not be reached for comment, but has released a statement saying he intends to fight the charges.

Andrew Antoniolli. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen