V/Line chief James Pinder discussed bribes for pandemic cleaning work
Explosive evidence aired at IBAC hearings has revealed V/Line chief executive James Pinder talked of “top-ups”, “sprinkles” and a bribe as he discussed cleaning work to be awarded as part of the government’s coronavirus pandemic response.
Victoria
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Explosive evidence aired at corruption hearings has thrown a cloud over government contracts from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with shocking phone calls with V/Line chief executive James Pinder discussing “top-ups”, “sprinkles” and a $50,000 bribe for new work.
The state’s corruption watchdog has heard a series of tapped phone conversations between Mr Pinder, Transclean managing director George Haritos and Metro Trains manager Peter Bollas.
They discuss the significant amount of cleaning work that will need to be awarded as part of the government’s pandemic response, of which a significant portion was allocated to Transclean.
In March, the pair had discussed the coronavirus cleaning as a chance to “do a little bit in boosting the coffers”.
By the end of the month, another phone call records Mr Pinder saying “I just want to make sure stuff is flowing your way” to Mr Haritos.
The hearing also heard conversations in which the two discussed delaying a planned catch-up, which Mr Pinder told the commission related to their shared gambling syndicate.
But Transclean’s work was also discussed with a third person, Mr Bollas, who was head of fleet operational support at the time.
Multiple tapped phone calls between Mr Pinder and the Metro manager discuss the scale of the work being secured for Transclean. They then talk about “top-ups” and “Christmas bonuses”.
On a call later in May, Mr Bollas estimates the work from his company was about $1.3 million per month and he implores Mr Pinder to talk to Mr Haritos.
They go on to mention the number 50 and the term “sprinkle” which is not explained.
“I think Peter was saying that we should be asking for $50,000 each off the back of the extra work,” Mr Pinder told the commission on Tuesday.
“That’s what I believe was the intent of the conversation.”
It comes after it was revealed James Pinder warned an associate that investigators would “follow the money” after his home was raided by the state’s corruption watchdog, warning him to “prepare for the worst”.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday heard $10,000 in cash had been found at Mr Pinder’s home in August during their first raid on his property.
The hearing was then shown messages, intended to be passed on to Transclean managing director George Haritos, advising him how to describe the cash when asked.
IBAC is conducting week-long hearings in alleged misconduct at V/Line, centred around a lucrative contract awarded to Transclean and payments made to Mr Pinder in the years that followed.
Mr Pinder told the commission the $10,000 discovered in August had come from a gambling syndicate.
But in a message Mr Pinder was asked to read for the commission, he outlines a different version of events.
“Tell him to say he got an anonymous WhatsApp message he thought was from me saying I was in trouble and needed some money,” he said.
The commission was also shown another message, intended for Mr Haritos, in which he details what he thinks the IBAC investigation will centre on.
In it he warns they will try to “follow the money from you to us” and that authorities would “look at the procurement process and find nothing”.
He also warns that “this may not end well” and to “prepare for the worst”
In May 2018, Transclean was awarded a $17.2 million cleaning contract and the V/Line board gave Mr Pinder power to extend that contract for another four years, worth an extra $23 million.
In December that year, $100,000 was transferred to a deposit for Mr Pinder’s new home and further payments were made totalling $320,000.
This money was provided by Transclean employee Maria Tsakopoulos and has been further linked to the company and Mr Haritos.
Mr Pinder has maintained this was a loan from a friend he intended to pay back.
The commission also heard a burner phone in Ms Tsakopoulos name was provided to the V/line chief executive in late 2016 and was used to communicate with Mr Haritos over the past four years.
This phone was later seized by investigators, with Mr Pinder given a new phone, under a new name, within days of investigators visiting his property.
The hearing continues.
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