Corrupt Western Sydney Airport employee Sajish Erasery avoids jail time over $250k bribe

The national corruption watchdog has claimed its first scalp after successfully prosecuting a Western Sydney Airport employee for trying to solicit a $250k bribe from a company vying for a $5m contract.

A federal government employee had lost $220,000 in a failed property investment when he tried to solicit a six-figure bribe from a company vying for a $5m contract at the new Western Sydney Airport, a court has heard.

Sajish Erasery was working as the manager of procurement for technology services at the new airport when he tried to solicit $250,000 cash from Sheldon James, the general manager of Designa Australia, which was vying for the contract to manage car parking at the site.

Mr James is not accused of any wrongdoing and in fact was the one who brought Erasery’s corrupt conduct to the attention of authorities, eventually engaging in an authorised ‘sting’ at the direction of investigators to catch Erasery red-handed.

The Sydney father-of-two was arrested in March 2024 and subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of corruptly soliciting a benefit as an agent of the Commonwealth.

Erasery’s case marks the first successfully prosecution for an investigation initiated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which was established in 2023 to investigate serious or systemic corruption in the Commonwealth public sector.

A general view of the exterior grounds of the terminal building during the official unveiling of the Western Sydney International Airport terminal building. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Designa Australia was bidding for a $5m contract to operate car parking at the new airport site (pictured) when its general manager, Sheldon James, was approached about a bribe. Mr James is not accused of wrongdoing, and in fact helped authorities bring corrupt airport worker Sajish Erasery to justice. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Erasery, who has been on bail since his arrest, avoided jail time when he was sentenced in the NSW District Court on Friday.

Judge Lara Gallagher instead placed him on a two-year, community-based intensive correction order, which includes 500 hours of unpaid community service work.

Judge Gallagher accepted evidence Erasery was under pressure after losing $220,000 in family money in a failed property investment scheme, but still found he had committed the crime for “greed rather than need”.

According to documents tendered to the NSW District Court, Erasery discussed Designa’s tender submission during a meeting with Mr James at a restaurant in Chatswood on March 11, 2024.

Erasery told Mr James “I can get the deal over the line with a five per cent payment”, which, on the $5m contract, equated to $250,000.

Erasery called Mr James the next day and said he was “chasing an answer” but that he was also “prepared to take a car in lieu”.

Mr James secretly recorded the conversation then reported Erasery’s actions to the airport’s chief legal officer, who referred it to federal police and the NACC for investigation.

On March 19, investigators were granted court approval to engage in a sting and secretly record Erasery’s conversations with Mr James.

During one interaction, Erasery confirmed Designa would win the tender and told Mr James he’d be willing to take $20,000 now, with the remaining funds to be paid later.

The pair meet in Parramatta on March 27, where Mr James, under the authority of investigators, handed Erasery $20,000 in cash.

Erasery was arrested when he returned to his car and immediately began apologising for his actions, court documents state.

The court heard Erasery had lost his job as a result of his corrupt actions, which he attributed to his financial struggles at the time. Picture: Generic/Supplied

Prosecutors called for a full-time jail sentence in court on Friday, noting Erasery had been persistent in his pursuit of the corrupt payment.

However, Erasery’s legal team said their client had no prior criminal record, had lost his job as a result of his actions and presented a low risk of reoffending.

In sparing Erasery jail time, Judge Gallagher found the 52-year-old was remorseful for his actions and unlikely to reoffend.

“The offence occurred in the context of the offender’s financial difficulties, which does not excuse his conduct, but helps to explain it,” she said.

“I find that the offender has very good prospects of rehabilitation.”