Former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire charged in cash-for-visa scam

The former Liberal MP has been charged with conspiracy over his alleged role in the scheme and will front a NSW court.

The inquiry heard that Daryl Maguire and Gladys Berejiklian had a secret five-year relationship. Ms Berejiklian has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Former Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has been charged with criminal conspiracy over his alleged role in a cash-for-visa scam that launched an anti-corruption probe that ultimately brought down then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Australian Border Force charged the former Liberal MP with furnishing false documents and false or misleading information relating to a non-citizen for his alleged role in the visa fraud scheme. The one-time lover of Ms Berejiklian was scheduled to appear at the Sydney Downing Centre on Tuesday but was unable to appear in person due to flooding around Wagga.

It is alleged Mr Maguire conspired with immigration agent Maggie Wang, now known as Maggie Logan, with causing “to be furnished, for official purposes of the commonwealth, documents in connection with applications for visas permitting non-citizens to remain in Australia, containing statements or information that was false or misleading in a material particular”. Ms Wang was arrested and charged with 12 counts of the immigration offence, which can carry a penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The 63-year-old former MP was the subject of an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, known as Operation Keppel, into whether he used his public office and parliamentary resources to improperly gain benefit for himself and his associates between 2012 and when he stood down in 2018.

Mr Maguire served as the Liberal member for Wagga Wagga from 1999 to 2018.

The ICAC inquiry heard allegations Ms Wang ran a cash-for-visas scheme, which gave tens of thousands of dollars to three Riverina businessmen for them to employ Chinese workers who never turned up for the job.

Business owners allegedly received kickbacks of up to $30,000 and only realised they may be involved in an alleged scam when the worker didn’t show up and they were paid in cash.

It was also alleged that Ms Wang destroyed correspondence between herself and Mr Maguire and she regularly received cash payments of up to $20,000 in connection to the scheme.

The inquiry heard Mr Maguire had secretly controlled the business at the centre of the alleged scheme, G8way International, and that envelopes containing tens of thousands of dollars in cash had been brought to him at Parliament House.

The inquiry also heard that Mr Maguire had nurtured a secret romantic relationship with Ms Berejiklian over the course of five years.

Then premier Ms Berejiklian said the relationship was not of “sufficient significance” to declare at the time.

She resigned in September 2021 after the anti-corruption body revealed that it was investigating if she broke the law by failing to report the conduct of her former boyfriend.

Ms Berejiklian is not suspected of any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any offences.

ICAC said in December that it would take “further investigative steps” relating to the Operation Keppel inquiry and confirmed earlier his month the investigation was still ongoing.

Australian Border Force confirmed the laying of charges against Mr Maguire and Ms Wang followed an “extensive investigation” into the alleged “visa and migration fraud”. Under his bail conditions Mr Maguire must live at his Wagga Wagga home, or inform an ABF case worker if he is to stay at his Ivanhoe property.

The former MP is not allowed to leave Australia and was forced to surrender his passport to Wagga Wagga Local Court.

He must not go within 500 metres of an international departure point.

Mr Maguire is also barred from contacting key figures involved in the case.

The matter returns to court in February.