‘It’s corruption’: Whistleblower to give evidence at slug-gate probe

A whistleblower says a family food company was the victim of a targeted attacked in “slug-gate” scandal and she’s ready to spill the beans.

I Cook Foods in Dandenong South.

A whistleblower who will give evidence at a relaunched parliamentary ­inquiry into the iCook Foods scandal says those who conspired to shut down the firm will be “pooping’’ themselves.

Kim Rogerson was a health inspector at Greater Dandenong City Council who took food samples and swabs of the sandwich-making area at iCook Foods before the business was shut down in February 2019, after the death of an 86-year-old woman who had contracted listeria.

Although Ms Rogerson says she wasn’t present when a slug was allegedly planted on iCook’s factory floor, she will testify she witnessed the aftermath at the council offices.

“This is all about government and the tiers of government and police,’’ Ms Rogerson said. “These people must be pooping themselves about now.’’

Kim Rogerson. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Rogerson said it had surprised her that Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog, IBAC, had not launched its own probe after she submitted a complaint to the body in May 2019, alleging she was pressured to sign a false statement.

“I originally went to IBAC because they (a council superior) changed my statement,” she said.

“My statement was falsified to make the council look ­better.’’

Ms Rogerson said she was a witness to her colleagues altering an image of the slug photographed at iCook, to remove a piece of ­tissue paper that was in the original photo.

When Ms Rogerson asked what was going on, she alleges she was told: “We’re just tidying it up, and removing private conversations (from files).’’

She claims her workplace became toxic for her after the “Slug-gate’’ scandal and the council’s failed prosecution of iCook. She has since made a WorkCover claim alleging she was bullied over the case.

A photo showing a slug found at iCook Foods (left) in Dandenong that was sent to owners, compared to the original photo (right) taken during a health inspection.

Boss of iCook Foods Ian Cook. Picture: Alex Coppel

Asked if iCook Foods had been targeted by the council, Ms Rogerson said: “Absolutely.’’ She said this was because of its interest in rival company Community Chef.

But she said she had no idea of any plan to plant a slug in iCook’s factory, and that iCook should not have been “named and shamed’’ by chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton, who linked the company to the ­listeria outbreak.

A Greater Dandenong City Council spokesman said: “Ms Rogerson’s claims about the alteration of a statement are denied.

“Council looks forward to being able to have these claims tested in court, when iCook Foods’ action against the state government and council is heard next February.”

The Herald Sun understands IBAC has been monitoring the iCook case but no official investigation has been announced.

iCook is suing the state and Greater Dandenong City Council for more than $50m.