ICAC to hold public inquiry into corruption allegations involving security companies and public authorities

Tuesday 12 June 2012

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry commencing on Monday 18 June 2012 as part of an investigation it is conducting into corruption allegations concerning the process relating to the supply of security services to several NSW public authorities.
 
The inquiry will examine an allegation that directors and employees of Kings Security Group Pty Ltd before providing and whilst engaged to provide security services to the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW), the former North Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, NSW Businesslink, the University of Western Sydney (UWS), Woollahra Municipal Council, Sydney Ports Corporation, Taronga Zoo and the former Department of Housing, did one or more of the following:

• provided benefits to public officials in return for the officials exercising their work functions in favour of Kings Security Group Pty Ltd
• were involved in collusive tendering for NSW public authority contracts
• provided false or misleading information to NSW public sector agencies to win contracts.

The Commission is also investigating whether Daniel Paul, the managing and sole director of Hootspah Pty Ltd, while engaged as a security consultant by the AGNSW, UWS, Woollahra Municipal Council, Sydney Ports Corporation and Taronga Zoo received corrupt benefits from officers of Kings Security Group and others in return for exercising his public official functions in favour of Kings, and misused information acquired in the course of his official functions.

The ICAC is further investigating whether Geoffrey Powell, a consultant to NSW Businesslink, received corrupt benefits from officers of Kings Security Group and others in return for exercising his public official functions in favour of Kings, and misused information acquired in the course of his official functions.

The public inquiry will start at 10:00 am and will be held in the Commission's hearing room at Level 21, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon David Ipp AO QC, will preside at the public inquiry, which is set down for at least two weeks.

Media contact:
ICAC Manager Communications & Media, Nicole Thomas (02) 8281 5799 / 0417 467 801