Operation Gerda public notice

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations concerning the University of Sydney, its contracted security services provider Sydney Night Patrol & Inquiry Co Pty Ltd (SNP Security) and SNP Security’s subcontractor, S International Group Pty Ltd (SIG) (Operation Gerda).

The allegations include whether:

1.    from January 2009 to the present, staff of Sydney Night Patrol & Inquiry Co Pty Ltd (SNP Security) and/or SNP Security's subcontractor, S International Group Pty Ltd (SIG), have dishonestly obtained a financial benefit from the  University of Sydney (USYD), a public authority with which SNP Security had a contract to provide security services, by creating false entries on daily time sheets and submitting these for payment to USYD
2.    any employee of USYD dishonestly obtained a financial benefit from, or acted partially in, exercising their public official functions for the benefit of SNP Security and/or SIG and/or any of their employees
3.    SNP Security and/or SIG and/or any of their employees engaged in conduct that adversely affected or could have adversely affected the exercise of official functions by USYD and/or any employee of USYD in the exercise of their official functions and which could have involved bribery and/or fraud
4.    any employee of USYD and/or SNP Security and/or SIG engaged in conduct that impaired or could impair, public confidence in public administration in that it involved dishonestly obtaining or assisting in obtaining or dishonestly benefiting from the payment or application of public funds for private advantage.

The general scope and purpose of this public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegations being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in section 13(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

As part of its investigation, the ICAC will hold a public inquiry starting at 10:00 am on Monday 11 February 2019 at Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. The Commission intends to live stream the proceedings in this inquiry via the ICAC website.

Persons claiming to be substantially and directly interested in this matter may seek leave to be represented at the inquiry, and are invited to contact Mr Anthony Baine on (02) 8281-5999 to advise of their interest.

Members of the public with information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to provide it in writing at GPO Box 500, Sydney, NSW 2001, or by facsimile (02) 9264-5364. The ICAC will treat all information confidentially and has legislative powers to protect people who provide information to the Commission.

Roy Waldon

Solicitor to the Commission