Union boss Darren Greenfield and son Michael charged with corruption offences

Darren Greenfield and his son Michael arrested as part of ‘investigation into allegedly corrupt payments from builders to union office holders’.

Michael and Darren Greenfield after being bailed on Friday. Picture: John Feder

CFMEU heavyweight Darren Greenfield and his son Michael have been arrested and charged after allegedly taking bribes from a construction firm in exchange for favourable treatment from the union.

The NSW Trade Union Task Force, comprising federal and state police, charged the Greenfields on Friday as part of what was described as a long-running investigation into allegedly corrupt payments from builders to union office-holders.

Darren Greenfield, 56, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union NSW secretary, has been charged with four counts of receiving a corrupting benefit, contrary to the Fair Work Act. Son Michael, 36, the union’s NSW assistant secretary, has been charged with making a false declaration and two counts of receiving a corrupting benefit contrary to the Fair Work Act.

Darren Greenfield. Picture: Monique Harmer

They faced Sydney Central Local Court, where prosecutor Rebecca Ogden alleged the men solicited and accepted payments from a building company’s owner in exchange for preferential treatment from the union and access to building contracts.

The company owner, Xian Feng Lin, was charged last ­November with six counts of giving a corrupting benefit contrary to the Fair Work Act, and one count of ­attempting to deal with proceeds of crime of more than $50,000.

Mr Lin was granted bail in February after the NSW Supreme Court was told he allegedly bribed CFMEU officials with $5000 kickbacks six times between ­November 2018 and last September in return for favours on building sites.

A suppression order remains in place over the naming of a third union official.

Michael Greenfield. Picture John Grainger

Ms Ogden argued the men were an unacceptable risk if bail was granted due to their ability to interfere with and coerce witnesses. Citing evidence obtained through police surveillance, Ms Ogden said Darren Greenfield had several business connections he could use to interfere with ­witnesses, based on previous ­behaviour.

There was also evidence ­Michael Greenfield would use threatening and or coercive ­behaviour to influence proceedings using his position as union assistant secretary, she said.

The Greenfields’ lawyer Grant Brady denied there was evidence of coercion or threats, saying Darren was allegedly observed speaking “in a firm way about sticking to an agreement”.

Magistrate Margaret Quinn said the facts showed the men’s ability to put “a fair amount of pressure onto persons within the business area they are working in” and labelled their language as “unattractive”.

She said she believed the men would receive a custodial sentence if convicted, and that the strong police case involved surveillance, CCTV and witnesses.

However, while stating that the charges should be taken seriously, Ms Quinn said she was satisfied the bail risk was not unacceptable.

Both men were ordered to ­attend daily at their local police stations and to stick to a strict nightly curfew and stay in NSW.

Darren Greenfield told the court via videolink he had “no ­intention of breaching any of the court orders” and thanked the magistrate for granting bail.

CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan said the Greenfields voluntarily attended the taskforce’s office, denied the allegations and would “vehemently contest the charges”.

Charges against union officials arising out of the taskforce had been withdrawn before trial three times, Mr Noonan said.

The maximum penalty for the Fair Work Act offences is 10 years’ imprisonment or a $1.11m fine, or both. The maximum penalty for a false declaration is five years’ imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Craig Bellis said 10 search warrants were executed on premises in the Sydney suburbs of Bradbury, Caringbah South, Pyrmont, Liverpool, Rhodes, Fairfield East and Surry Hills last November as part of the investigation.

NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow, said the arrests followed a long ­investigation into corruption allegations in the NSW building ­industry.