One of the famous scandals finished in Western Australia: a former senior bureaucrat at the centre of one of the biggest region public sector theft has pleaded guilty to 530 corruption charges for his role in a $22 million rort, reports ABC.net.
Former Department of Communities assistant director general Paul Whyte faced Perth Magistrates Court on June 17 via video link from Hakea prison, but had to plead guilty in writing because there were too many charges.
He is accused of working with physiotherapist Jacob Anthonisz to raise false invoices for three shelf companies dating back to 2008.
Whyte and Anthonisz allegedly spent the money on racehorses, paying a horse stud service in New Zealand and personal expenses.
Whyte is also facing a new offence of laundering about $254,000 but is yet to enter a plea to that charge.
He is due back in Perth Magistrates Court on August 18, but the case will eventually go to the WA District Court for sentencing.
Anthonisz is yet to enter pleas and is scheduled to face court on August 4.
Early Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has proposed the creation of a secret Federal Anti-Corruption Commission. The proposed integrity commission will operate outside the public eye, and the investigating authority will not make public statements or hold public hearings.
