V/Line chief executive James Pinder sacked amid IBAC probe
V/Line chief executive James Pinder has been sacked from the regional rail operator amid an IBAC investigation into allegations of corruption.
Victoria
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Contractors paid to clean Victorian trains allegedly failed to properly disinfect the carriages during the coronavirus pandemic.
The revelations at the anti-corruption hearings came on a day V/Line chief executive James Pinder was sacked from his job.
Metro Trains head of fleet operational support Peter Bollas was also sacked.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Thursday heard evidence Transclean was not cleaning all Metro trains to an acceptable standard, despite being paid millions in taxpayer dollars for the extra work.
In a secretly recorded April phone conversation, Mr Bollas complained to Transclean’s managing director, George Haritos, about the quality of the cleaning to protect against coronavirus.
“The state is paying you more now, to do more work that you’re not doing,” Mr Bollas said.
“They didn’t even f--king spray the train … We’re paying you to f--king spray them.”
After the pair argued, he reminded Mr Haritos CCTV cameras were used in the area.
“These f--kers can rip the tapes and have a look at what’s been happening for the past two weeks there and I can guarantee you it wasn’t the first time this has happened,” Mr Bollas said.
“Tell me the truth and let me go and tell the lie.
“There has to be a better way, ’cause this is gonna happen again and again. I’ve got to cover up, what do you think I f--king do every day George?”
IBAC is holding week-long hearings as part of a corruption probe into whether the two men, along with Mr Pinder, engaged in serious misconduct for financial gain.
Mr Bollas is also recorded warning a Transclean associate about an upcoming audit.
Commissioner Robert Redlich, QC, asked Mr Bollas whether he had concerns about tipping off the associate or the improper cleaning, given the serious nature of the work.
“Did you not have any disquiet, Mr Bollas, that in the context of this pandemic you were in effect giving advance notice to the cleaner to get his house in order?” Mr Redlich asked.
“In relation to what was meant to be a surprise audit to see that COVID requirements were being met.
“That’s part of the deal you had with Transclean that you’d help them out regardless?”
Mr Bollas agreed that this was correct.
The commission has previously heard from Mr Bollas that he received up to $150,000 in cash payments over the past four years from Mr Haritos to help grow Transclean’s business.
The cleaning company was awarded a lucrative V/Line contract in 2018 and received extra work for the regional rail operator and Metro as part of its pandemic response.
While this was taking place, IBAC investigators recorded multiple instances in which Mr Haritos would extract big sums of cash before meeting the pair.
In August, he was observed counting $100 bills before meeting Mr Pinder in Williamstown and then put a package in the rear seat of his car.
Mr Pinder has maintained this was part of a syndicate, despite Mr Bollas admitting he has never been in a gambling group.
On Thursday, V/Line chair Gabrielle Bell said Mr Pinder had been sacked and the operator’s contract with Transclean terminated.
“V/Line will work to support the frontline cleaning staff who may be affected by this decision,” she said.
“The alleged conduct of both Mr Pinder and Transclean is not acceptable to V/Line under any circumstances.”
Ms Bell said acting chief executive Gary Liddle would continue in his role until further notice.
Metro Trains CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said in a statement on Thursday night that he was “terminating the employment of Peter Bollas”.
An independent auditor would be appointed to review Metro Trains’ procurement and probity processes immediately.
Mr O’Flaherty said there would be “more to follow” in his response to the evidence presented at the hearings.
Mr Haritos, who gave his first public evidence on Thursday afternoon, first met Mr Pinder when he worked for Metro in 2013.
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