Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz teaching full-time in Cairo
He claimed health issues prevented him from flying home to face the music at commission hearings into the corrupt Casey council. But former mayor Sam Aziz has been “healthy” enough to work full-time in Egypt, his new employer says.
South East
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Besieged former councillor Sam Aziz is teaching full-time in Cairo, despite claiming “severe health issues” have stopped him flying back to Australia to face serious corruption allegations.
The former mayor flew to Egypt late last year, just before Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearings were told he pocketed $900,000 from property developers.
Mr Aziz allegedly suffers from a chronic heart condition, diabetes and mental health concerns, according to a court affidavit filed by his lawyer.
The affidavit claims Mr Aziz was due to fly back to Australia on November 19 last year but that he began feeling “extremely unwell” in the days prior.
He allegedly suffered “heart palpitations, shortness of breath and was visibly perspiring” on the day of his flight, and was refused boarding “due to high risk of heart failure”.
But Leader can reveal Mr Aziz has been working full-time teaching marketing management leadership at Bloom Business School in Cairo, while pocketing his $30,000 a year council salary before being sacked earlier this month.
Bloom Business School’s founder and chief executive Mary Louis confirmed that Mr Aziz had been teaching there for “months”.
Asked about his ill health, Ms Louis said he was “healthy”.
She refused to disclose how much he was earning but said he was a “good member” of staff.
On Bloom’s website, Mr Aziz is named under the Professors and Trainers list, which features his biography and photo.
He negotiated and signed a contract with the school in September last year and began lecturing on October 22, court documents confirm.
His teaching commitments at the school run until at least July this year.
“Aziz was originally scheduled to return to Australia on December 9 2019 but has had to continue his employment with Bloom Business School in order to financially support himself, his family and to cover ordinary living expenses,” the affidavit said.
When asked about Mr Aziz being able to leave the country, Premier Daniel Andrews today said IBAC had the power to call on other agencies, such as Victoria Police, to stop individuals from leaving.
But he flagged being open to having discussions with the anti-corruption watchdog on whether it needed more powers to enact travel bans on persons of interest.
“It is not appropriate for me to comment on that individual, but if there are any learnings that come from his experience in this current work then we are happy to sit down and talk with IBAC,” he said.
Mr Aziz boasts on his personal website that he has several qualifications, including an Advanced Diploma in Business and an Advanced Diploma in Government from the University of Canberra.
The Egyptian-born former mayor has been at the centre of the major corruption probe, accused of receiving $900,000 from Watsons developers director John Woodman, or his associated entities, and failing to declare the payments when considering matters related to Mr Woodman.
In stunning allegations aired before the commission, Mr Aziz allegedly gave a suitcase stuffed with $600,000 to Mr Woodman for the developer to invest and pay back in instalments — an attempt to conceal payments between the pair.
Mr Aziz also allegedly received monthly $25,000 payments from the Ferrari-driving developer for “expert advice” on smart cities.
Former Casey deputy mayor Rex Flannery said he was unaware Mr Aziz was working in Cairo.
“I was just told that he had gone there for business,” Mr Flannery said.
“Therefore, I really question how serious is his health condition is.
“I think the council should pay to have him medevaced back to Australia with a doctor and a nurse by his side if he’s claiming to be that ill.”
Opposition Local Government Spokesman Tim Smith said Mr Aziz could not continue to “thumb his nose” at integrity bodies and get away with it.
“Mr Aziz needs to return to Melbourne and face the anti-corruption hearings,” Mr Smith said.
“The Andrews Labor Government must begin conversations with federal government authorities to compel the order.”
The state government sacked the entire scandal-plagued Casey Council earlier this month, passing new laws that appoint an administrator and delay the next election until 2024.
It came after an independent monitor found that a culture of bullying and intimidation fuelled major governance failures at the council.
Mr Aziz was “examined privately” by IBAC investigators before public hearings into the corruption scandal began.
“This was prior to his departure overseas. IBAC’s Act does not allow IBAC to restrict travel movements,” an IBAC spokeswoman said.
IBAC’s public hearings into the corruption allegations start again on March 2.
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