Former Casey council mayor Amanda Stapledon found dead

Former Casey council mayor Amanda Stapledon, who was caught up in a corruption investigation, has been found dead.

Amanda Stapledon at a Casey Council meeting. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A former Casey mayor and councillor caught up in a long-running corruption investigation has been found dead.

Amanda Stapledon, who gave evidence to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in 2020 about her dealings with Ferrari-driving developer John Woodman, was discovered by police in a car on Tuesday.

The Herald Sun believes IBAC finalised a report for the state parliament on the long-running investigation, called Operation Sandon, on Monday. It probed allegations of serious corrupt conduct ­affecting property development in the City of Casey.

Ms Stapledon ran as a state Liberal candidate at the 2014 election. Picture: Chris Eastman

Public hearings were also told of massive political donations made to state parties and MPs by developers who wanted to influence decision making.

In a statement, Victoria Police said it had been called to reports of a 58-year-old Cranbourne North woman in a car on Stringybark Drive, in Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, about 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Ms Stapledon’s death is not being treated as suspicious. Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.

Ms Stapledon (pictured right) was mayor of City of Casey in 2018, and told IBAC she had met Mr Woodman before being elected to the role.

Mr Woodman has been ­accused of using political ­donations and bribes to solicit favourable planning decisions in Melbourne’s southeast.

Ms Stapledon told IBAC in 2020 she had to declare a conflict of interest dating back to 2014 because she had received a $25,000 donation from Mr Woodman to run for state parliament as a Liberal candidate that year. Mr Woodman has claimed the donation was requested by Ms Stapledon, but the former mayor maintained that the cash was ­“offered” by the developer.

The City of Casey said in a statement on Wednesday: “As a sole carer of an adult child with a disability, she understood the pressure of families, carers, and our older persons, and it was here in particular that she focused her attention on improving access and ­inclusion for all.”

Federal Liberal MP Jason Wood said his friend would be “missed and mourned by many”.