Casey councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett secretly pocketed $1m, IBAC finds

Among Operation Sandon’s most serious findings are those against former Casey councillor Geoff Ablett and his ‘kingmaker’ mayor Sam Aziz.

Former Casey councillor Geoff Ablett. Picture Rebecca Michael.

More than a million dollars washed through an elaborate network of business structures established by two Casey councillors to disguise the payments from developer John Woodman, IBAC has found.

Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz and ex-Casey councillor Geoff Ablett faced the most serious adverse comments with the Operation Sandon report, which concluded there was ‘‘clear evidence of two Casey councillors accepting personal benefits from making or influencing council decisions related to planning or land use’’.

‘‘Councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett promoted John Woodman’s and his clients’

interests on council in exchange for payment and in-kind support. Both councillors failed to declare conflicts of interest in relation to their involvement with Woodman or his companies on many occasions,’’ the report states.

Developer John Woodman funnelled between 2017 and 2019, IBAC found, more than $600,000 to councillor Aziz ‘‘in the form of investment returns, consultancy fees, and cash.

‘‘The relationship between Mr Woodman and Councillor Aziz was transactional. In return for money and other financial benefits, Councillor Aziz provided influence over Casey Council processes and decisions,’’ IBAC found.

‘‘Councillor Aziz conceded that he was perceived by fellow councillors as a kingmaker and able to control the Casey Council. However, when pressed on this point, Councillor Aziz would not be drawn, stating that he was ‘only one of 11 votes’.

Former Casey mayor and councillor Sam Aziz.

Property developer John Woodman is a witness in the IBAC investigation, Operation Sandon. Picture: Aaron Francis / The Australian

In a series of complex transactions, referred to by IBAC as the ‘cash in the suitcase’ deals, Cr Aziz was found to have pocketed 12 cash payments of $15,000.

Another $90,000 was paid by Woodman in a separate ‘cash in the suitcase’ transaction, while $22,500 was paid as part of a racehorse bloodstock business. More than $300,000 described as ‘‘Little River’’ consultancy payments was also received b y Cr Aziz, IBAC found.

IBAC found in the Operation Sandon report: ‘‘Cr Ablett received financial support from Woodman in exchange for promoting his interests on council. Cr Ablett received more than $550,000 in payments and other financial benefits from Woodman between 2010 and 2019.

‘‘In return for considerable financial payments and benefits, Councillor Ablett closely aligned himself with Mr Woodman and his associates’ financial interests.’’

In 2010, IBAC found that Cr Ablett received $15,000 from Mr Woodman, later claiming it was for a one-third share in a racehorse named Good Call.

Mr Woodman paid $25,000 in payments towards Cr Ablett’s credit card bill, the IBAC report found, while more than $200,000 was transferred for what was claimed to be ‘‘equine costs’’.

‘‘IBAC’s investigation identified that Mr Woodman made 17 payments totalling $20,311.49 to other parties, on behalf of Councillor Ablett, in relation to a boundary realignment on Councillor Ablett’s Curwen Road property,’’ the report states.