BENDIGO cycling identity Rik William McCaig has pleaded guilty to paying secret commissions to a former Ballarat City Council officer.
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McCaig, who was charged with one count of corruptly giving former Ballarat City Council officer Lukas Peter Carey $8000 as a reward for allocating contracts to him, appeared before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court for committal mention on Thursday.
During the hearing McCaig's legal representation, Kellie Blair, made a summary jurisdiction application to have her client's matter downgraded from the County Court into the Magistrates' Court.
The court heard Mr Carey, who was friends with McCaig, had approached him in 2013 and asked McCaig if he would review some cycling-related documents for the City of Ballarat - a direct breach of the organisation's conflict of interest policy.
After McCaig, who had expertise in cycling, agreed to do the work, it is alleged Mr Carey asked him "Do you reckon we can sort something out ... a bit of payment back to me?"
McCaig agreed to this, and over the next two years Mr Carey (on behalf of the City of Ballarat) allocated work to and authorised payment to the accused for six invoices totalling $26,100.
The court heard McCaig then paid cash to Mr Carey on four occasions as commissions totally $8000.
On one occasion in October 2013, McCaig submitted a $4000 invoice for consultation on a cycling event plan, from which he gave Mr Carey $1500 in cash at an arranged meeting. In May 2014 he gave Mr Carey $1700 cash after being paid $3400 by the council to review the City of Ballarat Cycling Strategy.
McCaig also gave $2700 in cash for working on the City of Ballarat BMX infrastructure and Crossing Borders Active Transport reviews in 2014. And in 2015 he gave Mr Carey $2100 in cash after being paid $6000 for the Criterium document preparation and review.
During the summary jurisdiction application, Ms Blair submitted the total amount of money paid to McCaig and money then given to Mr Carey in cash was well within the Magistrates’ Court jurisdiction.
“It’s not so complex the Magistrates’ Court couldn’t deal with it,” she said.
Ms Blair said her client, who has no criminal history, acknowledged giving the money to Mr Carey was wrong.
Magistrate Ronald Saines granted the application given the amount was less than $100,000. McCaig’s plea hearing will be heard on March 7.
McCaig took leave from his role as Bendigo International Madison’s CEO late last year.
