Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog has charged four people — including two former electorate officers — with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice, as it investigates claims a former Labor MP's office rorted printing allowances.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) began its investigation in 2017 after anonymous whistle-blowers claimed printing entitlements were behind misused in the office of Khalil Eideh, then an Upper House MP.
It was alleged that the electorate office had claimed printing reimbursements that were in excess of the printing actually carried out, and the difference was used to pay for bogus party memberships.
After the Victorian Parliament held an initial investigation into the matter, the allegations were referred to IBAC.
Mr Eideh — who resigned from Parliament at the last election — denied any wrongdoing at the time, and said that the office was run by a staff member who had previously told him everything was done within the rules.
Robert Mammarella — who worked in the electorate office at the time of the alleged rorts — has denied any wrongdoing.
His son, Justin Mammarella, pulled out as Labor's candidate in the seat of Melton at the November election, citing family reasons.
On Thursday, IBAC charged three people — two of whom were former electorate officers — as part of its investigation. A fourth was charged a day later.
The charges laid against the four people relate to perjury, conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to mislead IBAC and disclosure of IBAC information.
The first court hearing will be held at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on January 9, 2019.
IBAC's investigation into the matter continues.
