More charges, including imitation firearm, for ex-Labor candidate Justin Mammarella
Former Labor candidate Justin Mammarella has been slapped with more charges from IBAC, including allegedly possessing an imitation firearm.
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An ex-Labor figure charged following a probe by the corruption watchdog into the printing rorts scandal has allegedly been found with an imitation gun.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission charged former Melton Labor candidate Justin Mammarella in December with four offences relating to alleged attempts to cover up the use of taxpayer-funded resources for his preselection campaign.
But the Herald Sun can reveal IBAC has since slapped three further charges on him.
Two of the charges relate to perjury while the other involves possession of an imitation firearm.
Mr Mammarella, 43, from Taylors Hill, is fighting the charges.
His father Robert Mammarella, and two other Labor staff, Angela Scarpaci and Jeffrey O’Donnell, were also charged following the “cash for stacks” IBAC investigation.
All four are accused of giving “false and misleading” statements to IBAC about the use of 713 stamped envelopes addressed to Melton Labor members.
Charge sheets show they claimed the envelopes were to be used to raise awareness of autism.
The IBAC also alleged they perverted the course of justice by making a pact on what to tell officers about their use of former MP Khalil Eideh’s electorate office resources.
An agreement to tell the IBAC they had not used taxpayer-funded staff, stationery and office equipment in Justin Mammarella’s bid to become Labor’s candidate for Melton at last year’s state election was also alleged.
Justin Mammarella, Ms Scarpaci and Mr O’Donnell were also charged with ignoring gag orders prohibiting them from telling others about the evidence they planned to give.
The IBAC began investigating allegations parliament had been billed for false invoices for printing work which was never done after it was exposed by the Herald Sun in 2017.
Taxpayers’ money was allegedly instead funnelled to pay for Labor memberships.
Melbourne Magistrates Court heard earlier this week that IBAC had six months worth of telephone intercept material.
A further three charges of perjury had also been laid on Ms Scarpaci, who now has a total of nine charges.
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The court heard the prosecution was considering a plea offer made by Mr O’Donnell.
A decision should be made before he returns to court on July 5.
If his offer is rejected, he will join the Mammarella father and son, and Ms Scarpaci at a contested hearing in August.
Despite winning the preselection, Justin Mammarella quoted “family reasons” for dropping out of the race just before the poll.