Victorian train boss James Pinder sacked over alleged bribes, corruption aired at IBAC inquiry

James Pinder — the head of Victoria’s regional train service — dumped amid damning corruption inquiry evidence.

Sacked: V/Line CEO James Pinder, Picture: Alison Wynd

The head of Victoria’s regional train service V/Line has been sacked after four days of damning evidence in an inquiry investigating alleged corruption.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission hearing has heard evidence of alleged corruption with V/Line chief executive James Pinder and Metro Trains head of fleet operational support Peter Bollas allegedly receiving bribes from the cleaning supplier Transclean managing director George Haritos.

V/Line chair Gabrielle Bell issued a statement on Thursday saying the board of directors had terminated Mr Pinder’s employment following the public hearings.

“The V/Line Board has also provided notice of termination of the contract with cleaning supplier Transclean Facilities Pty Ltd,” she said.

Covert pictures allegedly show V/Line chief executive James Pinder meeting with the head of a cleaning company that won lucrative government and Metro Trains contracts. Picture: Supplied.

“The alleged conduct of both Mr Pinder and Transclean is not acceptable to V/Line under any circumstances.

“All V/Line employees and contractors are expected to uphold the highest levels of integrity and the Board of Directors is committed to ensuring this happens at all times.”

Ms Bell said V/Line would work to support the frontline cleaning staff who may be affected by this decision and acting CEO Gary Liddle will continue in the role until further notice.

“V/Line has fully co-operated with the IBAC investigation and will continue to do so,” she said.

“We will make no further comment at this time while the investigation and hearings continue.”

The inquiry was presented with evidence of Mr Pinder allegedly receiving thousands of dollars in cash from Mr Haritos, however Mr Pinder said the money was from a gambling syndicate he was in with Mr Haritos and Mr Bollas.

Mr Bollas refuted Mr Pinder’s evidence and admitted receiving about $150,000 to grow and assist Mr Haritos’ business.

It is alleged Mr Pinder pocketed about $320,000 for awarding a $40m cleaning contract to Transclean, a company.

A covertly taped phone conversation between Mr Bollas and Mr Haritos captured insufficient cleaning of the Metro trains during COVID-19 when Mr Haritos’ company was being paid extra.

Mr Haritos said the trains had been cleaned but they hadn’t been sprayed with disinfectant as required.

“The state is paying you more now, to do more work which you’re not doing,” Mr Bollas said.

“This is an ongoing thing, it’s not like this has just happened yesterday,” he went on to say.

“These f..kers can rip the tapes and have a look at what been happening for the past two weeks there and I can guarantee you it wasn’t the first time this has happened.”

Mr Haritos then asked Mr Bollas to “cover up” for him.

“Are you taking the f..king piss out of me, I’ve got to cover up, what do you think I f..king do every day George?” Mr Bollas responded.

Mr Pinder was appointed chief executive of V/Line in ­December 2016, in an effort to clean up the service following an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into procurement and recruitment practices at the agency.