Source: The Herald, Newcastle
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
FORMER Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid will face prosecution over alleged misconduct in public office, the ICAC has announced.
Mr Obeid joins former NSW resources minister Ian Macdonald and former union official John Maitland facing court in Sydney in the wake of ICAC.
All three men are due to appear on December 18.
Mr Obeid was served a court attendance notice on Thursday for actions he allegedly took to cause the Maritime Authority of NSW to deal favourably with Circular Quay Restaurants Pty Ltd, a company of which his family was the effective owner, regarding the company’s restaurant tenancies at Circular Quay.
The allegations against Mr Macdonald follow the Operation Acacia public inquiries at ICAC into circumstances surrounding Mr Macdonald's decision to invite Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd to apply for an exploration licence.
The company's bid was successful.
ICAC found that Mr Macdonald acted corruptly as a minister in 2008 by granting a licence at Doyles Creek to a company then headed by former union official John Maitland
An ICAC statement on Thursday said a court attendance notice was served to the former minister on Thursday following advice from the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions.
The first alleged offence related to Mr Macdonald's conduct between 2007 and 2008, when it is alleged he did "wilfully misconduct himself by granting Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd consent to apply" for the mining licence.
The second allegation relates to the period between August and December in 2008 when the licence was granted "without reasonable justification".
Doyles Creek Mining Pty Ltd's then-chair John Maitland was also served over two counts of being an accessory before the fact to misconduct in public office, in relation to aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring the commission of the two offences by Mr Macdonald.
Mr Maitland is also being prosecuted for giving false and misleading evidence before ICAC.
That matter has been adjourned to 18 December 2014 at the Downing Centre Local Court for mention.
All three men will face court in Sydney on December 18.
"The Commission is awaiting advice from the DPP in relation to further briefs it has provided with respect to Operation Acacia," the ICAC statement said.
"The Commission will be making no further comment at this stage."