Victoria Police to probe slug saga as catering business fights to clear its name

Police will be called in to probe a catering firm’s allegations that evidence was cooked up in order to shut it down earlier this year.

Police will be called in to probe a catering firm’s allegations that evidence — including a rogue slug — was cooked up in order to shut it down earlier this year.

In February, iCook Foods was closed by the Department of Health after it was blamed for a listeria case in a nursing home.

Dandenong Council then inspected the facility where food was prepared and hit the company with 96 charges, all of which were sensationally withdrawn at court in October.

One of the charges was related to a slug being found on its premises, something the company said must have been planted.

It even hired a slug expert to cast doubt on the evidence, including the lack of trail around the pest and the conditions that were not suited to slugs.

A version of the photo showing a slug found in the iCook Foods factory in Dandenong that was sent to the owners, beside the original photo, right, taken during a health inspection.

Business owner Ian Cook has now revealed video footage showing the circumstances around the slug’s discovery, while questions have also been raised about a photo of the offending mollusc.

Dandenong Council said on Thursday it “absolutely rejects the suggestion that the slug was planted” and defended its decision to bring charges against the company.

Mr Cook, who is preparing to sue for $26 million in damages over the scandal, has hired former fraud squad detectives to expose flaws in charges presented in court.

A complaint is set to be handed to Victoria Police about potential perjury and falsification of evidence, after iCook’s internal investigations uncovered:

VIDEO evidence showing allegations of dirty sponges being used were without basis;

TESTS showing that a short necklace worn by one worker couldn’t contaminate food;

A REPORT by a slug expert showing no trail around the slug and questioning the conditions for it to survive;

CCTV footage to rebut accusations a worker had mixed potato salad in a way that risked contamination.

Owner of iCook Foods, Ian Cook, and his son, Ben Cook, in the kitchen area where the inspection took place. Picture: David Caird

A separate video also shows a council worker do a “double take” when realising a CCTV camera had been recording a health inspection when the slug was allegedly found.

Mr Cook said the destruction of his business was “not victimless crime” because 41 people lost their jobs.

MORE NEWS

BIKIE CHARGED WITH MOKBEL ASSOCIATE MURDER

MUM TELLS HOW CAR KILLED HER THREE-YEAR-OLD

AVO EXTENDED FOR KATE RITCHIE’S HUSBAND

“We will be co-operating fully with any police investigation,” he said.

Greater Dandenong Council City Planning, Design and Amenity director Jody Bosman, said the council believed its allegations “were well-founded”.

“The charges were withdrawn because iCook Foods Pty Ltd and Ian Cook were contesting every aspect of what was alleged, which looked likely to result in Council incurring irrecoverable costs exceeding $500,000,” Mr Bosman said.

“The potential cost to ratepayers was a key reason for the charges being withdrawn.”

[e-mail]