Three Victorian Building Authority staffers face corruption charges after dozens of alleged bribes

Dozens of builders allegedly bribed officials to progress their registration applications up the scale for several years before they were busted by IBAC.

Dozens of builders allegedly bribed VBA officials to progress their registration applications up the ranks. Picture: iStock

Building authority staffers were allegedly bribed to rubberstamp dozens of building licence applications, allowing builders to skip the queue without proving their credentials.

Court documents have revealed Victorian Building Authority staffers Phillip Caccamo and Ben Sano, of Camberwell, were allegedly offered bribes to progress domestic and commercial building registrations up the chain regardless of the applicants’ “suitability or eligibility for the registration”.

On Thursday, 28 men appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for filing hearings on bribery charges after a major IBAC sting — called Operation Perseus — into the alleged corruption.

Dozens of builders appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday on corruption charges. Picture: iStock

Overall, three VBA employees and 34 builders — who either allegedly helped facilitate bribes or were beneficiaries — have been charged.

According to court documents it’s alleged Mr Caccamo was offered bribes by more than 20 of the builders charged to get their registrations progressed “with the knowledge that (he) would recommend (the application) for approval”.

It’s alleged his colleague Mr Sano accepted a bribe on behalf of Ozcan Oztas to grant him a commercial builder’s licence in June 2024.

Mr Sano — who appeared on Thursday — faces two bribery charges over the alleged incident.

The builders allegedly offered bribes to various Victoria Building Authority staff members before they were busted by IBAC last year. Picture: iStock

Moreover, it’s alleged Omer Faruk Oztas and Ozcan Oztas acted as middlemen during the scheme which ran for several years.

Omer Oztas faces more than 20 corruption charges, allegedly assisting dozens of builders bribe their way through the process.

23 of the builders (listed below) who appeared at court on Thursday faced a single charge of bribing a VBA official.

Tajit Singh Arora, of Wollert, was charged allegedly for bribing his way to a registration as well as, police say, helping fellow builder Balihar Singh get in on the act.

Dallas man Fatih Oztas also faces two charges for allegedly facilitating bribes for other builders.

The 28 men who appeared at court have had their matters adjourned for committal mention on April 22.

As part of the licence application process, aspiring domestic builders must provide a reference from an existing domestic builder which confirms their experience and qualifications.

The 28 men charged (who appeared on Thursday)

Jason Jie Yang — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress an application for a VBA domestic builder registration for Wang Chen.

Bhairava Prasad Naganoori — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

David Janev — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Omer Muhammed Yuksel — charged with encouraging Phillip Caccamo to assist Niko Ntoulelari obtain VBA registration and conducting Mr Ntoulelari’s formal interview without disclosing a conflict of interest. He also allegedly “neglected to consider (Mr Ntoulelari’s) suitability or eligibility” and neglected to consider public safety.

Rinku Maggon — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Akshay Thakur — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Selim Ozgan — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Kesu Nadem Elyas — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Nemaja Krneta — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Orhan Bardan — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration for Engin Bardan.

Ashur Albazi — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Roberto Farah Makoul — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Danny Jian Yang — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Tajit Singh Arora — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registrations for Balihar Singh and himself.

Bhilinder Singh Bawa — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Yuk Ching Ko — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Omer Faruk Oztas — faces 26 charges. Allegedly acted as a middle man to help 17 builders have their applications progressed.

Selahattin Toprak — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Andy Yousif Iso — charged with conspiring with Ozcan Oztas to bribe Phillip Caccamo to progress Iso’s application for a domestic builders’ registration.

Fatih Oztas — charged with assisting Yuk Ching Ko to bribe Phillip Caccamo in exchange for VBA registration.

Thomas Chillico — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Serdar Celik — charged with conspiring with Ozcan Oztas and Omer Oztas to bribe Phillip Caccamo to progress Meryem Celik’s application.

Benedetto Guiseppe Sano — charged with receiving a bribe on behalf of Ozcan Oztas to progress Oztas’ application for a commercial builders’ registration.

Kamil Yucel — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Yasar Bolat — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Gaylan Nadem Elyas — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Inderjit Singh — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.

Balihar Singh — charged with corruptly offering Phillip Caccamo, via Ozcan Oztas, a bribe to progress his application for a VBA domestic builder registration.