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SYDNEY - A Sydney transport authority officer accepted money and drugs in exchange for falsifying emails to allow four migrant New Zealanders to obtain drivers licences, a tribunal has found.
New South Wales' Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) recommended Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) officer Paul McPherson face charges over a licences-for-cash scam.
The ICAC today released its findings after a probe into registry services manager McPherson's actions at the RTA's Botany office, in Sydney's south-east.
It also found McPherson "improperly provided correct answers to between 50-100 applicants undertaking the driver knowledge test for a learner's permit", between late 2002 and August 2006.
McPherson admitted he falsified emails purporting to be from Land Transport New Zealand, stating Robert Potae, Pita Taimalietane, Howard Ngamotu and Mathew Laison had all held an equivalent truck licence.
McPherson told the ICAC a fifth man, Rawiri Potae, was the first person he assisted in this manner after he was introduced to him at a Sydney hotel in 2004.
Rawiri Potae told the ICAC he gave McPherson a small bag of cannabis in exchange for an upgrade of his heavy vehicle licence.
Taimalietane, Ngamotu and Robert Potae all told the ICAC they were assisted by McPherson, who falsified emails under an arrangement with Rawiri Potae.
Robert Potae told the ICAC he knew he was not entitled to a heavy combination licence in NSW unless he was the holder of an equivalent licence in New Zealand, and that the means by which he obtained the NSW licence wasn't legitimate.
He said the arrangements were made by an "Islander bloke" whom he met at the wharf and paid A$200 ($235.65) for his assistance.
Laison denied that anyone else arranged for him to be issued with a heavy combination licence, but the ICAC rejected his account and said in the report it was satisfied similar arrangements had been made with McPherson on his behalf by Rawiri Potae.
The ICAC also recommended driving instructor Komate Jaturawong and restaurant owner Victor Phomsavanh face charges over corrupt conduct in the licences-for-cash scam.
ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps, QC, said: "McPherson's corrupt actions resulted in a significant number of people who may not have understood NSW road rules or even, in some cases, known how to drive properly, being granted licences to drive on public roads.
"Licences were also provided in false names, allowing people to create fictitious identities."
ICAC found cash payments of up to A$2400 were paid by each motorist who sought to cheat the system, and this money was divvied up by the three men.
Commissioner Cripps said the scam had endangered lives on NSW's roads.
Corruption findings were also made against 18 drivers who obtained their car, motorcycle or truck licence through the scam, and four other people involved in an attempt to "procure the services of an RTA officer to remove demerit points" from a driver.
The report will now be forwarded to the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, who can lay criminal charges.
- NZPA/AAP
