NSW: Council prevails in duelling corruption claims

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
NSW: Council prevails in duelling corruption claims

By Paul Carter

SYDNEY, Dec 20 AAP - The NSW corruption watchdog has recommended a property developer
be charged over a $30,000 bribe offered to a Wollongong City Council officer.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today found that developer Lou
Tasich, of Tasich Investments, offered the bribe to council officer Peter Coyte for favourable
treatment of a $6.5 million Wollongong carpark proposal.

Mr Tasich told ICAC the reverse was true - that Mr Coyte had solicited a bribe from him.

ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps, QC, today cleared Mr Coyte of any wrongdoing and
recommended that Mr Tasich be charged with bribery and giving false or misleading evidence
to the commission.

But the council did not escape criticism in the ICAC report.

In particular, Mr Cripps highlighted the role of a council officer senior to Mr Coyte
in the bribe scandal.

He said ICAC had examined why the council's then general manager Rod Oxley failed to
immediately report the bribery allegation when he was informed about it by Mr Coyte and
his supervisor Stephen Payne.

It had also investigated why Mr Oxley, who resigned from the council in June, informed
Mr Tasich about the allegation without consulting the ICAC.

Mr Cripps found that although Mr Oxley's conduct fell below the standard expected of
his position, the ICAC was not persuaded by the available evidence that he wilfully disregarded
his statutory duty or attempted to tip off Mr Tasich.

The ICAC made no findings of corrupt conduct against Mr Oxley.

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KEYWORD: COYTE

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