Operation Mantis public notice

Tuesday 14 May 2024

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations concerning former Canterbury-Bankstown Council (“council”) employee Benjamin Webb, former council contractor Pietro Cossu and others (Operation Mantis).

The allegations include whether:

  1. between May 2020 and December 2022, Mr Cossu and/or Mr Webb partially or dishonestly exercised their official functions by using, and/or attempting to use, PMLV Invest & Const Pty Ltd (“PMLV”) to undertake recruitment subcontractor services through council recruitment contractors in circumstances where Mr Cossu, and/or Mr Webb, failed to disclose their pecuniary interest in PMLV, and/or pecuniary benefits that they anticipated receiving in connection with the use of PMLV

  2. between July 2020 and December 2022, Mr Cossu and/or Mr Webb partially or dishonestly exercised their official functions to favour General Works & Construction Pty Ltd (“GWAC”), by attempting to influence the award of council contract/s to GWAC, and/or using, or attempting to use, PMLV to subcontract GWAC council contracts to benefit themselves and/or others.

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 3 June 2024 at Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. The public are permitted to attend the public inquiry, which will also be live streamed via the Commission’s 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 at [email protected] or Ms Sabina Aielli [email protected] no later than 4.00 pm on Wednesday 29 May 2024 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 email to [email protected]. 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