ICAC hears messy love web in phone calls between two Botany council officials amid $4M fraud inquiry
Salacious tapped phone calls were played at the NSW corruption watchdog between two former Botany council officials - and apparent lovers - in which she accused him of cutting her out of the spoils.
Former Botany Bay Council accounts manager Suman Mishra was played recordings of her calls with former chief financial officer Gary Goodman in an ICAC investigation into an alleged fraud totalling $4 million.
"But you and Marny when you people need money you can find the Jovane invoices. Huh? Huh?
"You and Marny rip the council off in thousands," Ms Mishra said in a call with Mr Goodman, apparently accusing him of cheating – with several other women.
"And when I want money it's in $50?"
ICAC heard Ms Mishra helped Mr Goodman forge more than $1.8 million in fake invoices from just one company.
The council's lawyers accused Ms Mishra of trying to blackmail Mr Goodman who had also given her a council car.
It was also alleged Mr Goodman gave her a Mercedes, paid most of the deposit for a $1.34 million Green Square apartment, covered renovations on her Earlwood home, paid phone bills and gave her $200 "pocket money" a week.
The enquiry before ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham also heard that Ms Mishra, who was in charge of the council's fuel cards and Cabcharges, was not aware if Mr Goodman had repaid between $40,000 and $50,000 in erroneous taxi travel.
He was also said to have around 16 fuel cards, which Ms Mishra said was not surprising as he "lost his wallet a few times".
Mr Goodman is unable to appear at the inquiry for at least 10 days following an operation on an apparent gangrenous toe. But that did not stop ICAC hearing the lashings he got on the phone from Ms Michra.
"You've got all your fingers and all your toes in it," she was heard saying to Mr Goodman in one of the calls.
"You make so much money out of the place."
But the former council employee denied Mr Goodman was giving her council money obtained through fake invoices, although she was aware of rorting "rumours".
The inquiry continues.
