A former Ballarat City Council officer who was charged with a string of fraud and corruption offences totalling $130,000 may face more charges, a court has heard.
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Lukas Peter Carey, of Bendigo, appeared briefly before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday for committal mention.
Carey's lawyer made an application for an adjournment after detailing to the court that he was informed by prosecution possible further charges may be laid against his client.
The matter has been adjourned for further committal mention on April 13.
Carey's partner Jasmine Finnigan, who is facing numerous charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception, also had her matter adjourned to the same date.
A third accused facing fraud charges, Derryn Ladson, will also return to court for further committal mention in April.
An IBAC prosecutor told the court it was hopeful it will be known at the next court date whether the matters are capable of resolving or whether it will need to be set down for committal hearing.
EARLIER HEARING, DECEMBER 15 | A former Ballarat City Council officer allegedly rorted the system to the value of about $130,000 through inappropriate use of contracts and services, court documents reveal.
Lukas Peter Carey of Bendigo appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday for a file hearing, facing a string of fraud and corruption charges.
It comes after the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) probed allegations for months the former Ballarat council employee, who is no longer at the organisation, used corrupt transactions to defraud other parties.
IBAC charge sheets obtained by The Courier show the former sport and recreation manager and basketball coach faces 42 charges including 30 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Carey’s partner Jasmine Finnigan also appeared in court facing 14 related charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Carey was formally charged by Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog on December 7.
Court documents show in one incident, between August 30 and October 22 last year, Carey allegedly obtained $11,485 for himself and Finnigan through allocating a contract of employment and authorising the payment of the contract to Cross Court Leisure Planning, contrary to the terms of his employment.
In another incident, Carey allegedly obtained a further $14,900 after he allocated another contract of employment and authorised the payment of the contract to Cross Court Leisure Planning between June and July last year.
Court documents show Finnigan is also accused of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage in excess of $28,000 through invoice payments.
It is alleged she falsely represented her identity to the Ballarat City Council to authorise payments of invoices to Cross Court Leisure Planning on up to 14 occasions.
Another two contractors to the city, Rik McCaig and Derryn Ladson also appeared in court facing related fraud charges.
Ladson is being charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception, while McCaig is charged over secret commissions.
Ladson faces 17 charges including dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Court documents also allege he corruptly gave Carey more than $20,000 as a reward for the allocation and subsequent payment of contracts associated with the council.
