Property developer gave $90K as ‘gift’ to Casey mayor Sam Aziz
A property developer who gave $90,000 to Casey mayor Sam Aziz has told an IBAC hearing into the link between planning and gifts to public figures that the bonus was an act of “charity”.
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Ferrari-loving developer John Woodman has described a bonus $90,000 he allegedly gifted former Casey mayor Sam Aziz as part of so-called loan repayment an act of “charity”.
Mr Woodman, a director at Watsons development company, has also admitted he paid $150,000 for a share in the rural property of another Casey councillor — former Hawthorn VFL footballer Geoff Ablett.
An explosive Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearing into the link between planning and gifts to public figures continued on Wednesday with allegations Mr Woodman also secretly provided $15,000 to clear Cr Ablett’s credit card debts in 2014 — shortly before he ran as a Liberal candidate for Cranbourne.
During the hearing, counsel assisting the commission Michael Tovey, QC, probed Mr Woodman about his alleged arrangement to hold $600,000 in cash for Cr Aziz, and return it to him over time with interest.
Cr Aziz — who recently flew to Egypt after being grilled in a private IBAC hearing — told the Herald Sun on Tuesday he had withdrawn the money so his wife could not get access to it, and it was all above board.
But Mr Tovey alleged an extra $90,000 was added to the amount returned by Mr Woodman.
Mr Woodman told the inquiry he had not realised the arrangement was improper at the time, saying it was simply an “act of goodwill” for Cr Aziz because he knew the councillor was having marital problems.
The inquiry has heard there has been more than $900,000 in payments from Mr Woodman or his associated entities to Cr Aziz over several years, which the IBAC alleges was used to get support for certain projects.
Mr Tovey quizzed Mr Woodman over a property deal he entered into with Mr Ablett, including a $150,000 payment for a share in the former footballer’s 20 acre rural property.
Mr Woodman said he had agreed to pay $350,000 for 75 per cent of the property.
Mr Tovey questioned Mr Woodward several on whether payments to Cr Ablett’s credit cards amounted to corruption, which the flashy developer from the Mornington Peninsula denied.
“I did not believe I was attempting, at any stage, to secure his support in the council,” Mr Woodman said.
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During the hearings Mr Woodman was also questioned over a document created by Watsons Pty Ltd and circulated to lobbyists, which had council election hopefuls colour-coded to indicate “friendly” candidates.
Among those marked friendly was former candidate Frank Lamattina, who is a cousin of alleged mafia boss Tony Maddafferi.
Meanwhile former Cranbourne Labor MP Jude Perera confirmed he had a fundraiser hosted by Mr Woodman in 2014, which raised $10,000 for his campaign, but denied he was epressured to push projects that were in the interests of the developer.