ICAC Recommends Charges Against Obeid, Macdonald » $100M Mine Deal Found to Be Tainted Roozendaal Cleared Over Car-For- Favours
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ICAC recommends charges against Obeid, Macdonald » $100m mine deal found to be tainted Roozendaal cleared over car-for- favours THEY were at the heart of governing NSW and the Labor party for more than 15 years but ICAC yesterday determined former ministers and powerbrokers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald were corrupt. The commission has recommended criminal charges against them, Mr Obeid’s son Moses and a string of prominent businessmen. While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moved quickly to distance himself from the heavily diseased NSW Labor, the fallout is expected to have ramifications on the federal election, whenever that may occur. NSW Labor’s darkest hour arrived yesterday, with damning corruption findings recommending criminal charges be considered against former NSW ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid. ICAC yesterday handed down three reports into the rotten state of NSW Labor, with disgraced former resources minister Mr Macdonald its biggest scalp. Also to be referred to the DPP for the consideration of criminal charges were Eddie Obeid’s son Moses, accused murderer Ron Medich and millionaire mining magnate Travers Duncan as well as a number of other coal investors. The furnishing of the reports to parliament yesterday morning signalled the end of three years of secret investigations and explosive public hearings which laid bare accusations of the greatest political corruption in NSW history — the work now begins for the DPP to determine what charges, if any, can be laid. In a separate report, Mr Macdonald was found to have engaged in corrupt conduct by creating a mining tenement to the multi-million-dollar benefit of the Obeid family, passing on secret information from his department and giving ‘‘ deliberately untrue’’ evidence to the commission. The report said he reopened the application process for exploration licences before Cascade Coal became the successful bidder. The Obeids still have a 9.3 per cent interest in Cascade Coal as well as receiving $30 million for the bulk of their stake. Yesterday’s report said the family could still make up to $100 million if the state government approved a mine at the Mt Penny site in the Bylong Valley in northwest NSW. Mr Macdonald was also found to have corruptly received a benefit, in the form of sexual services from a prostitute, in exchange for introducing Medich, who is awaiting trial for the 2009 murder of Michael McGurk, to energy executives. The third report, about the $10,000 discount given to Eric Roozendaal on a new Honda, cleared the former treasurer of acting corruptly but recommended Moses Obeid be considered for a charge of giving false evidence to the commission. ICAC Commissioner David Ipp said the DPP could consider charges against Mr Macdonald of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office — both charges carry maximum sentences of seven years jail. As Mr Macdonald and Mr Obeid declared they would be cleared of wrongdoing, the findings were applauded by all sides of politics. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said: ‘‘ Anyone who is responsible for corruption or illegal behaviour should face the full force of the law.’’ Mr Rudd said he had been ‘‘ absolutely disgusted’’ by the evidence presented at ICAC, where it was revealed the behaviour of Mr Macdonald and Mr Obeid was considered to be corruption on a scale unprecedented since the Rum Corps. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the inquiry ‘‘ exposed the rottenness at the heart of the NSW Labor Party’’. The report labelled the evidence of Mr Macdonald and Mr Obeid as ‘‘ unsatisfactory’’ and ‘‘ unimpressive’’. NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said the men should ‘‘ serve time’’ if found guilty. The report described Eddie Obeid as ‘‘ an aggressive witness . more concerned with imposing his will on the proceedings rather than with simply telling the truth’’. Mr Ipp rejected Mr Macdonald’s evidence on how he came to create the Mt Penny mining tenement in June, 2008, saying the most curious feature is how his decision came to provide such an extraordinary benefit to his friend and supporter (Eddie) Obeid’’. The Obeid finances, and any benefits they received from the coal deal, have also been referred to the NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Taxation Office. Cascade Coal investors Travers Duncan, John McGuigan, RAMS Home Loans founder John Atkinson and Richard Poole will be considered for charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception Commissioner Ipp will hand down the last findings, into Mr Macdonald’s decision to grant an exploration licence in the coal rich Doyles Creek area to a small group of investors including former union boss John Maitland, later this month. .