MEDIA ALERT: Public inquiry into corruption allegations involving $1.7 million obtained by TAFE ICT manager starts Monday

Friday 14 August 2015

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption's (ICAC) public inquiry into allegations that a TAFE ICT manager dishonestly obtained over $1.7 million from the Department of Education and Communities TAFE South West Sydney Institute (SWSI) will start next Monday 17 August 2015 at 10:00 am.

The public inquiry forms part of the Commission's Operation Sonet investigation. It will examine allegations that, between January 2014 and July 2014, Acting Manager TAFE ICT (information and communication technology) Services Ronald Cordoba dishonestly exercised his public official duties to obtain a financial advantage of more than $1.7 million from SWSI by authorising false purchase orders, supplying false invoices to SWSI and dishonestly authorising payment of those invoices to his own business, Storm Solutions.

The Commission is also investigating allegations that, between November 2013 and March 2014, Mr Cordoba secured a payment of $55,000 from an SWSI IT contractor, by falsely claiming that he had been authorised by SWSI to undertake work as an IT subcontractor on behalf of the SWSI contractor.

The public inquiry will be held in the Commission's hearing room on Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

The ICAC Commissioner, the Hon Megan Latham, will preside at the public inquiry, and Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Mr Scott Robertson. The inquiry is set down for three-to four days.

A short media briefing will be held from 9:30 am on procedural and logistical matters. A witness list for the public inquiry is attached. Please note that witness lists are subject to change.

Time:                              9:30 am – short media briefing
                                      10:00 am – inquiry commences

Date:                            Monday 17 August 2015

Location:                     ICAC Hearing Room
                                      Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

OPERATION SONET

WITNESS LIST

FOR WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY 17 AUGUST 2015

Please note that this list is subject to change.

Monday 17 August 2015
James Martin Brassil
Neil Stralow
Sharon Mary Geraldine Ambrose
Sylvia Arthur

Tuesday 18 August 2015
Ronald Cordoba

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