AFP finds no criminal conduct in Leppington Triangle land deal
No evidence of bribery, fraud or misuse of public office has been found by police investigating the $33m purchase of a block of land for the Western Sydney Airport later valued at $3m.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
No evidence of bribery, fraud or misuse of public office was found by police investigating the $33 million purchase of a block of land for the Western Sydney Airport later valued at $3 million.
Australian Federal Police on Wednesday confirmed its investigation into the Commonwealth’s purchase of 12.26 hectares of land, known as the Leppington Triangle, found no evidence of criminal conduct and no further action would be taken.
The land deal was referred to police in July 2020 by Auditor-General Grant Hehir, who said auditors had “found information that we cannot explain and is suggestive that the Commonwealth may have been defrauded”.
The scathing audit raised issues of integrity, and found Infrastructure Department officials did not pass on key information to their superiors.
The AFP launched Operation Verraten to look at potential offences including bribery of a Commonwealth official, conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth, and abuse of public office.
The government bought the Leppington Triangle for $32.8m in July 2018.
Part of this deal included an agreement to rent the block back to previous owners, the Leppington Pastoral Company owned by billionaire brothers Tony and Ron Perich, which resulted in a 2019 valuation of the property at just $3.02m.
In a statement the AFP said its investigation team “conducted a full and thorough investigation into the serious allegations of criminal conduct involving the use of public funds”.
“The investigation did not identify any evidence of criminal offending by Commonwealth officials, or other people involved in the purchase,” the AFP said.
As part of the investigation, police analysed documents and digital files and interviewed “numerous relevant people”.
This included Department of Infrastructure staff who were involved in the acquisition process.
The AFP also undertook a detailed financial analysis of payments made in relation to the purchase.
“The AFP investigation found that the purchase was in line with the requirements of the Lands Acquisition Act (1989), and was authorised by appropriate Commonwealth officials and authorities,” the AFP said.
The investigation was also overseen by the AFP Sensitive Oversight Board (SIOB), which included deputy and assistant commissioners.
“The SIOB supported the findings of Operation Verraten, that the investigation did not identify any evidence of criminal offending,” the AFP said.
“Consequently, the AFP has finalised this investigation and no further action will be taken.”
‘Dark days’: Mum’s heartbreaking ten-year ordeal before miracle bub
After a decade of IVF attempts, three crushing losses and spending a sizeable house deposit, one woman had a miracle bub through a low-cost model. But she says more needs to be done to help women in regional NSW.
‘Shocking failure’: Abbott slams PM over terror intelligence breakdown
Ex-PM Tony Abbott and security experts have blasted an “alarming breakdown” in communication between the state and federal government as Sydney narrowly dodged a ‘mass casualty event’ over a foiled anti-Semitic terror plot.