Former head of V/Line charged after corruption probe

The former head of Victoria’s regional train operator V/Line has been charged following an investigation into allegations of serious corruption in the state’s public transport sector.

Former CEO James Pinder is  charged with four charges of misconduct in public office, four charges of receiving secret commissions, and one charge of conspiracy to solicit secret commissions, Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission’s (IBAC) says.

Mr Pinder and a former manager at Metro Trains are among seven people charged following an investigation by IBAC into serious corrupt conduct in V/Line and Metro’s tendering and procurement processes.

Mr Pinder was suspended in 2020 during the investigation, Operation Esperance.

The Former Head of Fleet Operational Support at Metro Trains has also been charged with one charge of receiving secret commissions and one charge of conspiracy to solicit secret commissions, IBAC said on Friday.

A Transclean director has been charged with three charges of giving secret commissions and two charges of conspiracy to give secret commissions; and another Transclean director has been charged with conspiracy to give secret commissions.

A Transclean staff member has been charged with one charge of conspiracy to give secret commissions and another Transclean staff member has been charged with one charge of giving secret commissions and one charge of conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice.

A lawyer for a Transclean staff member has been charged with one charge of conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The first court appearance will be in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 21.

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One thought on “Former head of V/Line charged after corruption probe

  1. The individual corruption of senior bureaucrats is a symptom of a greater problem, the corruption of our Institutions where its legal and okay to steal public assets and transfer massive public wealth into Big Corporates. It not only effects Public Institutions now but even Private Organisations where contracting out disguised as seeking efficiencies and off loading responsibilities becomes a cover for transferring wealth to third parties. Economic Rationalism has conveniently provided that cover.

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