Property developer gifted Casey councillor $15k
A high-rolling property developer has denied allegations his $15k donation to councillor and former VFL footballer Geoff Ablett amounted to corruption, saying the money was intended for personal debts.
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A Ferrari-driving property developer at the centre of a Victorian anti-corruption inquiry has admitted depositing $15,000 into the credit account of Casey councillor and former VFL footballer Geoff Ablett.
However, the developer has sensationally claimed the payments did not amount to corruption.
On the third day of public hearings by the independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in Melbourne into Casey Council, Watsons developers’ director John Woodman admitted making two payments of $7500 into Mr Ablett’s credit card account on 17 February 2014.
The payments were made ahead of Ablett preparing to run in the state election as a Liberal candidate for the highly sought-after seat of Cranbourne.
However, despite questions of corruption, Mr Woodward told counsel assisting the inquiry, Michael Tovey QC, the payments were made to help Mr Ablett to clear his credit card prior to the election, as financial stability was not a good trait for state election candidates.
“I did not believe I was attempting, at any stage, to secure his support in the council,” Mr Woodman said.
“I believe from the bottom of my heart, he had asked me for assistance to become a candidate for Cranbourne.
“He was fearful his credit card and the extent of it and the fact he was incapable of continuing to meet his monthly payments that he requested my assistance.”
Mr Woodman’s admission comes after he had no recollection of the payments in hearings yesterday.
He told the hearing he had remembered details overnight and although not corruption “with the benefit of hindsight” he could now see the payments were “improper”.
Mr Tovey today also quizzed Mr Woodman about the two secret withdrawals from a Watson’s account, which matched deposits into Mr Ablett’s credit card account on the same day.
These were accompanied with an accompanying unsigned slip that Mr Woodman confirmed was his handwriting.
It is alleged in total Mr Woodman had made payments of $25,000 to Mr Ablett and $80,000 in cash to another Casey councillor Sam Aziz prior to January 2015.
According to Mr Tovey, regular payments continued and by 7 June 2016 Mr Aziz had pocketed $100,000 while Mr Ablett had recieved $62, 500.
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When questioned further, Mr Woodman denied any payments were made in the bid for assistance on council related matters or for the recipients to lobby other councillors to support motions relating to his interests.
The IBAC hearings are part of Operation Sandon, which is potentially the biggest investigation into alleged planning corruption in Victoria. At the centre of the probe is the council decision to rezone property in Melbourne’s southeast that was owned by construction giant Leighton.
Despite denying influence over councillors or using Mr Ablett or Mr Aziz as conduits, deleted WhatsApp messages revealed Mr Aziz was reporting back voting intentions to Mr Woodman through former liberal turned lobbyist Lorraine Wreford.
Mr Woodman told hearings he received briefings by Mr Aziz on at least “half a dozen times a year”.
More to come.