Casey Council: Former councillor files explosive stat dec to IBAC
A former Casey councillor has filed an explosive statutory declaration to IBAC detailing allegations involving disgraced former Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek.
South East
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A former Casey councillor has filed an explosive statutory declaration to the state’s peak anti-corruption body detailing allegations involving former Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek.
The Leader can exclusively reveal the four-page statutory declaration filed to IBAC by the former councillor on November 25 alleges the council’s chief executive, Glenn Patterson, was phoned by Monitor Laurinda Gardner telling him she was asked by Mr Somyurek to “beef-up” her report to recommend the council’s sacking in February.
The former councillor alleges in the statutory declaration Ms Gardner was given an additional seven working days to complete the direction by Mr Somyurek.
“Mr Patterson had advised me as well as other former councillors ... that the Monitor Laurinda Gardner had told him this information, it seemed Mr Patterson was shocked by the information,” the former councillor wrote.
The former councillor also alleges in the statutory declaration: “When relaying this information Mr Patterson seemed extremely uneasy and appeared quite anxious what had been said to him.”
“As the CEO of the City of Casey and as an IBAC witness, Mr Patterson should have communicated this to IBAC when questioned about the report,” the former councillor wrote.
The Leader has spoken to other former councillors who also confirmed the alleged conversation between them and Mr Patterson occurred.
The Leader is not suggesting the accusations within the statutory declaration are true, only that they have been made.
The former councillor, who submitted the statutory declaration and asked to remain anonymous, told Leader they felt compelled to “finally reveal the truth”.
“This was a political agenda, we were the only council in the whole state to have a Liberal majority for that long ... this was all for control,” the former councillor said.
“I believe the truth should be put transparently, people should be able to know what the truth is when they’re paying rates, this is for the residents.”
The former councillor said residents had been left “devastated” and felt the council had significantly lacked representation.
“There’s hundreds of residents, some who did not know we were gone, who need district nurses ... I’m not a councillor anymore but I feel so terrible for them when they let me know they have contacted the council and haven’t heard anything after months.”
A Casey Council spokeswoman said the council had at all times, and would continue to, fully co-operate with the IBAC’s Operation Sandon.
“Given this is an ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting on the IBAC proceedings. Any person(s) with issues or concerns about the Monitor’s report should refer them to Local Government Victoria.”
An IBAC spokesperson said: “As this in an active investigation, and the subject of a current public hearing, IBAC is unable to comment further at this time for legal and operational reasons.”
Adem Somyurek did not respond for comment.
Despite several attempts, former Casey Council monitor Laurinda Gardner could not to be reached for comment.
