Former New South Wales Labor ministers Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly have been charged with criminal charges following an investigation by the state’s corruption control body that ended five years ago. .
Key points:
- An investigation recommended charges against the four men after they found they were involved in serious corrupt conduct in 2017
- This is the first time Tripod and Kelly have faced criminal charges following the corruption findings made against them by the ICAC.
- Eddie Obeid is serving a prison sentence after being found guilty of a mine license conspiracy
The men have been charged with “misconduct in public office, arising from Operation Credo,” the prosecution confirmed.
Former Tony Kelly chief of staff Laurie Brown has also been charged with the same crime.
In 2017, an investigation by the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) recommended charges against the four men after finding that they had been involved in serious corrupt conduct.
The ICAC investigation, known as Operation Credo, found that Mr. Kelly and Mr. Tripod used their ministerial positions to push for the award of a lucrative government contract to infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings.
At the time, the watchdog said the contract could have benefited the Obeid family financially.
It is the first time that Mr. Tripod and Mr. Kelly faces criminal charges following the corruption findings made against them by the ICAC.
The men are due to appear in Downing Center Local Court in Sydney in August, according to the Office of the Director of Prosecution.
Obeid is currently serving a prison sentence after being found guilty of a mine license conspiracy involving the Obeid family farm in the Bylong Valley between 2007 and 2009.
The license gave the Obeid family an unexpected $ 30 million in revenue, which has never been returned.
His family earned $ 30 million more with the deal, but the license was canceled by the New South Wales government.
He has also served a prison sentence for misconduct related to the lease of cafes on Circular Quay.
Earlier, Obeid has vigorously denied the allegations contained in the Credo Operation report.