New evidence, gaps in testimony to reopen iCook saga

Gaps in testimony by senior public officials have become the basis for next week’s reopened iCook Foods inquiry, as the saga continues.

Gaps between testimony from senior public officials and new evidence are cited as the basis for next week’s reopened iCook Foods parliamentary inquiry.

Senior state government and City of Greater Dandenong figures are among those who will be called before the looming hearings run by the Legal and Social Issues Committee.

A succession of revelations in the Herald Sun this year have prompted the reconvening of the parliamentary inquiry and a police investigation into the saga.

iCook boss Ian Cook with retired Detective Sergeant Paul Brady and retired Detective Inspector Rod Porter. Picture: Alex Coppel

They include that iCook was closed despite a Knox council report clearing it of involvement in the listeria-related death of an elderly woman and allegations that evidence was withheld from the company as it battled serious criminal charges.

There were existing claims — denied at last year’s inquiry — that a garden slug was planted at the company’s factory by a City of Greater Dandenong environmental health officer.

Closure of the Dandenong South plant put 41 people out of work.

iCook whistleblower Kim Rogerson. Picture: Mark Stewart

The inquiry sat last year, with iCook founder Ian Cook, chief health officer Brett Sutton and City of Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie among the witnesses.

There is also speculation former health minister Jenny Mikakos could be asked to attend.

The parliamentary website states the inquiry has been reopened on the basis of: “new evidence that was made public in relation to the inappropriate closure of I Cook Foods” and that “this new evidence contradicts the testimony provided by senior officials in the Victorian Government and City of Greater Dandenong”.

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

There will be two days of hearings, the first of which is next Wednesday.

Knox Council environmental health officer Ray Christy is the first witness listed.

He found that Jean Painter, who died at the Knox Private Hospital, was on a soft food diet and had not eaten an iCook sandwich.

But within hours of his report being sent to the Department of Health and Human Services, iCook’s closure was announced by Dr Sutton.

Despite the Christy report’s findings, the City of Greater Dandenong hit Mr Cook and his company with 96 charges which carried the potential for huge fines and prison terms.

Mr Christy did not appear before last year’s parliamentary hearings.