Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli in clear after failed attempt to overturn appeal

Andrew Antoniolli, former mayor of Ipswich, remains a free man after an attempt to overturn his successful appeal against fraud charges failed to get off the ground.

Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli has been vindicated after a court dismissed an application to overturn his successful appeal against fraud convictions.

Mr Antoniolli was found guilty of 12 counts of fraud and one of attempted fraud in 2019 relating to the alleged misuse of $10,000 of council funds to purchase auction items at charity events.

But Ipswich District Court Judge Dennis Lynch QC acquitted him on all charges in December 2020, finding the magistrate had erred in ignoring he did not acknowledge he had done anything wrong by bidding on charity auctions or supporting payments from the community fund.

Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli leaving Brisbane Supreme court. Thursday June 10, 2021. Picture, John Gass

The Commissioner of Police sought to overturn Judge Lynch’s decision but the Court of Appeal on Tuesday refused leave to appeal.

The dismissal is another blow for the Crime and Corruption Commission which brought the charges against Mr Antoniolli.

It follows the collapse of a number of high-profile cases brought by the corruption watchdog in recent years, including a case against a number of Logan councillors who were wrongly charged with fraud over the sacking of a former council CEO.

The CCC was criticised for overstepping by wading into an industrial relations dispute and the case has sparked an independent review into the watchdog.

During closing submissions of the review last month, counsel assisting Jonathan Horton said State Parliament could consider sacking the CCC boss for failing to ensure the organisation acted impartially in relation to the Logan councillors.

The results of that inquiry are due back at the end of this month.