IBAC drops case against key Operation Sandon witnesses

‘You won’t be prosecuted’: bombshell twist in IBAC’s Operation Sandon investigation clears Geoff Ablett and others.

Former Casey mayor and Liberal candidate Amanda Stapledon Picture: Chris Eastman

Key witnesses in a controversial IBAC investigation blamed for the suicide of a former mayor have been told by the anti-corruption agency they will not be prosecuted.

The Australian has confirmed a number of witnesses, including former Casey councillor and VFL footballer Geoff Ablett, have been given the official all clear by Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission after being subjected to a five-year investigation.

The watchdog has written to multiple witnesses this month confirming they will not be referred for prosecution as a result of the investigation — codenamed Operation Sandon — into allegedly corrupt land deals involving Casey councillors and developer John Woodman.

In a March 14 email to witness Janet Halsall, who performed administrative work for candidates running in the 2016 Casey council election, an IBAC legal operations manager stated:

“I confirm that you are no longer the subject of any active investigation by IBAC and that IBAC will not be referring a brief of evidence or recommending to the Director of Public Prosecutions that you be prosecuted in respect any matter associated with Operation Sandon.”

Operation Sandon, which also secretly grilled former premier Daniel Andrews over his and the ALP’s links to Mr Woodman, started in 2017 and expanded across 2018-19 into one of the most expensive and long running inquiries conducted by IBAC.

In January 2022 Operation Sandon was plunged into controversy when former Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon, who was grilled for two days in public, took her life three days after receiving IBAC’s draft report.

Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz, Mr Woodman and Mr Ablett were the three key targets of Operation Sandon with all enduring days of public examination.

The Operation Sandon final report accused Mr Ablett of pocketing about $500,000 and Mr Aziz about $600,000 in payments from Mr Woodman.

Mr Ablett has told multiple former Casey colleagues in the past week he has been informed by IBAC that he will not be referred to the OPP for prosecution. Mr Ablett did not respond to messages from The Australian.

As of Wednesday, it was unclear if IBAC and the Office of Public Prosecutions intended pressing ahead with prosecutions against Mr Woodman and Mr Aziz.

John Woodman and former Casey Mayor Sam Aziz defend their reputations into the IBAC report regarding alleged corruption at the City of Casey. Picture: Ian Currie

“IBAC is consulting with the Office of Public Prosecutions in respect of what charges (if any) should be filed as a result of Operation Sandon, this process is ongoing,” a spokesperson said.

Ms Halsall launched a scathing attack on IBAC on Wednesday, accusing the agency of destroying “countless lives” including that of Ms Stapledon.

“I was innocent of any crime and so were all the other people IBAC investigated for Operation Sandon, but it has taken IBAC five years to acknowledge this,” she said.

“During that time our lives have been ruined by public examinations and the extreme trauma of being accused of crimes we didn’t commit.

“With this investigation IBAC has wasted millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money, destroyed countless lives and pushed one witness, Amanda Stapledon, to suicide as a direct result of the stress IBAC created for her. They have never accepted responsibility for this tragic outcome.”

The inquiry involved 40 days of public examinations of more than 20 witnesses, 450 evidence exhibits were reviewed and 29 warrants were executed. About 800 hours of covertly recorded conversations were logged by IBAC investigators.

IBAC’s special report into the investigation, which was delayed by legal action launched by Mr Woodman, was tabled in parliament eight months ago, and stated it had found “clear evidence” of two Casey councillors — former mayor Sam Aziz and Mr Ablett — “accepting personal benefits from making or influencing council decisions related to planning or land use”.

“IBAC found that councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett promoted John Woodman’s and his clients’ interests on council in exchange for payment and in-kind support,” the report found.

“Both councillors failed to declare conflicts of interest in relation to their involvement with John Woodman or his companies on many occasions.”

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au; or Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au