Ballarat Council sport and recreation manager to face more charges in fraud case

Former Ballarat Council executive manager Lukas Peter Carey, charged late last year with a string of fraud and corruption offences totalling $130,000, may face more charges, a court has heard.

Appearing briefly before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court last month for committal mention, Ballarat newspaper The Courier reported that Carey's lawyer made an application for an adjournment after detailing to the Court that he was informed by prosecution that his client may face further charges.

The matter has been adjourned for further committal mention on 13th April.

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.

The Courier reported that a third accused facing fraud charges, Derryn Ladson, will also return to court for further committal mention in April.

An Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (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.

It comes after IBAC probed allegations againist the former Ballarat council employee over several months, investigating alleged 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.

Court documents show in one incident, between 30th August and 22nd October 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. 

6th February 2017 - FORMER PARRAMATTA EELS MANAGER JASON IRVINE CHARGED WITH FRAUD OFFENCES

15th December 2016 - COURT TOLD SPORT AND RECREATION MANAGER DEFRAUDED BALLARAT COUNCIL OF MORE THAN $130,000

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