Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission unable to stop witnesses fleeing
The state’s corruption watchdog has no power to stop key witnesses from leaving the country. The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal two high-profile people who avoided the watchdog by jumping on a plane.
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Key witnesses are leaving the country while being investigated by the state’s corruption watchdog and cannot be stopped under existing Victorian laws.
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigators were aware former Casey mayor Sam Aziz had sold his home and was preparing to board a plane to Egypt and Dubai, but were powerless to stop him leaving.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal it is the second time a high-profile person of interest has left the country while under investigation.
In 2016 former Parks Victoria chief executive Bradley Fauteux, was stood down and was facing an integrity probe when he flew to his native home of Canada, derailing the investigation.
After Mr Aziz left the country IBAC held its explosive Operation Sandon public hearings, revealing developer John Woodman made $1.2 million in payments to Mr Aziz and councillor Geoff Ablett.
Liberal MP Lorraine Wreford, who delivered payments, conceded she believed the payments were bribes in return for support for a project, but all involved have denied corruption.
In November, Egyptian-born Mr Aziz told the Herald Sun he was in Dubai and Cairo for work that would contribute to his PhD.
“I certainly intend to defend the allegations with every ounce of energy in my body,” he said at the time.
Mr Aziz is due to return on December 9, but this week could not be contacted for confirmation he is still returning to Australia.
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An IBAC spokeswoman declined to comment on individual cases, but said anti-corruption officers lacked the ability to act in some areas.
“IBAC currently has no powers of arrest and relies on the assistance of other law enforcement agencies to arrest persons reasonably suspected of having committed an offence,” she said.
A parliamentary inquiry last year heard Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog was significantly hamstrung by the law compared with other states.
It also found in some cases protective services and fisheries officers had more powers to detain and arrest.