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$1.2 million corruption case hits court—and the details are shocking

Maan
By Maan
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News & Politics

$1.2 million corruption case hits court—and the details are shocking

  • Maan
  • By Maan
1758846721579.png $1.2 million corruption case hits court—and the details are shocking
Casey corruption saga reaches crucial court milestone. Image source: Facebook/Casey Crime Page Public

The saga that gripped Casey for nearly a decade reached a pivotal moment on 25 September 2025.


Two central figures in one of Victoria's most significant local government corruption scandals finally faced a magistrate.


Residents of the sprawling southeastern Melbourne municipality waited years for this day.




Former Casey mayor Sam Aziz, 52, and property developer John Charles Woodman appeared briefly at Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday.


For many in Casey—a municipality home to over 350,000 people—this hearing marked more than a routine legal step; it was the culmination of years of upheaval and uncertainty.


The council had been dismissed, planning decisions delayed, and public trust shaken since 2017.



Aziz faced five serious charges from the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), including receiving secret commissions from Woodman between May 2017 and October 2019.


He was also charged with two counts each of wilful misconduct in public office and misuse of position.


According to charge sheets, these actions allegedly favoured Woodman, his company Watsons Pty Ltd, and associated developers.



Woodman faced charges of giving secret commissions, which prosecutors claimed formed the corrupt partnership influencing Casey’s planning decisions.





'This was allegedly in order to show favour to the developer.'

Charge sheets, Pakenham Officer Star News



The charges stemmed from IBAC’s Operation Sandon inquiry, which examined planning and property development decisions at Casey Council.


The inquiry spanned five years, involved 40 days of public hearings and seven private examinations, and scrutinised councillors, developers, and state MPs.


The investigation uncovered systemic issues in council decision-making that prompted then-Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek to dismiss the entire council in 2020 and appoint administrators.



The corruption allegedly affected real properties and planning decisions with long-term consequences for Casey.


IBAC investigated four major proposals involving Woodman, including a rezoning in Cranbourne West that would dramatically increase land value.


The Pavilion housing estate in Clyde was also mentioned, with Aziz accused of failing to declare conflicts of interest during votes worth millions of dollars.




IBAC found that Casey councillors Sameh Aziz and Geoff Ablett accepted almost $1.2 million in payments to promote Woodman and his clients’ interests.




The scale of alleged corruption



  • Nearly $1.2 million in alleged payments

  • Four major planning proposals affected

  • Entire council dismissed due to investigation

  • 40 days of public hearings over five years—next court date: 2 February 2025




In July 2023, the case took a bizarre turn with an eccentric 90-minute press conference by Aziz and Woodman.


The presentation featured technical glitches, silent film clips, a poster declaring 'something is rotten in the state of IBAC', and inexplicable footage of a football bouncing across an NRL pitch.


During this, Aziz admitted regretting a cash payment to Woodman in a suitcase, claiming it was part of an investment scheme.



Adding intrigue, IBAC temporarily removed its final report from its website months ago, citing 'an abundance of caution'.


The commission has not explained the removal, raising questions about potential legal challenges or undisclosed developments.



Both men were granted bail and will reappear for a committal mention on 2 February 2025, meaning the court process that began nearly a decade ago will continue throughout next year.


Residents of Casey will remain in limbo, waiting for answers about how their council was allegedly corrupted.





Understanding the charges


Secret commissions: Payments made to influence business decisions without proper disclosure


Misconduct in public office: Using a government position improperly


Misuse of position: Taking advantage of official authority for personal benefit


Committal mention: Court hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial




The case underscores vulnerabilities in how local governments manage planning and development.


Rapid growth in outer Melbourne municipalities like Casey can create pressure points that, if unchecked, may foster corruption.


Older Australians, in particular, may feel the impact through council decisions affecting aged care facilities and local infrastructure.


The protracted timeline also raises questions about the efficiency of anti-corruption investigations in Australia.



What This Means For You


The investigation revealed that councillors allegedly accepted nearly $1.2 million in secret payments, with four major planning proposals said to have been influenced as a result.


The scandal was so severe that it led to the dismissal of Casey’s entire council, leaving the community without elected representation.


Now, with the next court date set for 2 February 2025, residents are still waiting for closure in a saga that has stretched on for almost a decade.


For many Australians, this raises bigger questions about how much trust we can place in local councils and whether the decisions shaping our neighbourhoods truly serve the community’s best interests.




While the Casey corruption scandal highlights how power can be misused at the highest levels of local government, it is not the only instance where councils have come under scrutiny.


In some cases, the impact is felt directly in households, with mistakes or mismanagement costing residents significant amounts of money.


One such example involved a massive council error that left thousands of people overcharged, sparking outrage and eventual refunds.



Read more: Are you being overcharged? This council error cost residents over $10 million!





Have you noticed changes in how your local council manages planning decisions since this scandal became public?

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Casey is still bad all through. Over-paying their council leaders, interferring with what you can do on your block, not listening to the residents, poor roads maintenance, etc. The list goes on.
 
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Reactions: RobbyNotTheRobot, HelenB55 and 7777
All the more proof to get rid of Councils all together in every state we have a state Government that is enough. Just think of all the extra money to go into roads, hospitals, police, all the essentials.
 
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Sameth Aziz has been the scum of the earth for over five years.

Just another slimy Arab. Would you trust a face like this?

DIRTY SAM AZIZ.jpg
 
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Aussie all the Way said:
All the more proof to get rid of Councils all together in every state we have a state Government that is enough. Just think of all the extra money to go into roads, hospitals, police, all the essentials.
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YES! 👍🏻
 
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Why do we trust Councils.. they cannot organise a. “ Tea Party “ let alone Planning
Decisions. No wonder their “ ERROR “ cost Residents over 10 million.. which outraged
People who EVENTUALLY got a refund. What an insult.
The lot of them need to get the “ Flick “ and go and join the Dole queue..
 
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Parrot said:
Why do we trust Councils.. they cannot organise a. “ Tea Party “ let alone Planning
Decisions. No wonder their “ ERROR “ cost Residents over 10 million.. which outraged
People who EVENTUALLY got a refund. What an insult.
The lot of them need to get the “ Flick “ and go and join the Dole queue..
Click to expand...
Yes, give them the flick, but not the Dole. That should be for those who truly need it.

Councils seem to believe no one can touch them. They need to be shown the door quick smart. Abolish Councils.
 
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Veggiepatch said:
Sameth Aziz has been the scum of the earth for over five years.

Just another slimy Arab. Would you trust a face like this?

View attachment 85215
Click to expand...
I would rather have Mr Bean in that office than this slimball, at least his pens and pencils would be in order.
 
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