The scam, which involved fraudulently awarding contracts for transport infrastructure works to businesses he controlled, was described in sentencing remarks as a strike "at the heart of our civilised democracy".

Albert Ooi, 66, will spend at least the next six years in jail before he is eligible for parole, but was given a much lighter sentence than the maximum 15 years allowable for his white collar crimes, in part because he pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to give evidence against his co-accused in the conspiracy.

His age, poor health and vulnerability to physical attack in prison were other mitigating factors in the lighter sentence, Supreme Court Justice John Dixon said on Thursday.

"Mr Ooi impresses me as someone who is naive to violent offenders and I suspect this may make him vulnerable in custody," he said.

Had Ooi not pleaded guilty, Justice Dixon would have given him a 10-year sentence with an eight-year minimum, he said.

Between early 2007 and early 2014, Ooi used his position as a project officer to mastermind a fraudulent scheme in which more than 100 government works contracts were awarded to businesses he covertly controlled, and which were registered in the names of compliant family members who were in on the scam.

The work mainly involved the design and construction of bus shelters and railway station car parks across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Ooi personally profited to the sum of $2.32 million while the seven-year conspiracy lasted, creamed off contracts he helped to secure with the Victorian government.

He shared the spoils of his corrupt dealings equally with an alleged co-conspirator, who was also a department project officer.

The pair used the spoils to pay for home improvement works and to buy luxury goods including jetskis and a $15,000 piano, the court heard.

The total value of contracts awarded to the sham companies over the seven-year period exceeded $15.3 million, the court heard.

"I am satisfied that your offending was well orchestrated, devious and sustained," Justice Dixon said.

"It became more sophisticated over time by, for example, the later use of supposedly independent tender assessment processes that you controlled, allowing a double payment."

Ooi's crimes were very serious because they undermined public service procurement policies designed to protect state revenue by ensuring contracting works are done at a competitive price.

"As such, your crime involved corruption of the trust that citizens of this state place in public servants that taxpayer funds will be honestly expended and accounted for in the public interest," Justice Dixon said.

"Corruption of this kind strikes at the heart of our civilised democracy."

Ooi appeared frail in court and kept his eyes closed throughout Justice Dixon's remarks. He showed no emotion when being sentenced.

Two family members wept silently as the prison sentence was handed down.

Ooi was charged following an investigation by IBAC, the state's anti-corruption watchdog.

Details of IBAC's investigation against him and others involved in the conspiracy have been suppressed by the court while those others face trial.

Ooi was sentenced for seven years and six months jail for conspiracy to defraud, and one year for accepting garden furniture valued at $6740 from Furphy Foundry, a business that sought to win favour in securing government contracts.

Justice Dixon ordered that six months of the one-year sentence be served concurrently.