Former Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski faces allegations that he gave confidential council documents to a property developer, part of three accusations he provided misleading evidence to the state’s corruption watchdog.
After spending 40 years as a Labor councillor on Rockdale and Bayside councils, Saravinovski faced the local court in the John Maddison Tower for the first time on Thursday over criminal allegations brought by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Bill Saravinovski, pictured last year, faced court accused of giving misleading evidence. Credit: Kate Geraghty
In August, the corruption watchdog revealed it had probed allegations Saravinovski had breached his duties as a public official by sharing confidential information with property developers, and that he had supported an unsolicited development proposal by a developer around August 2017.
While those matters were never addressed in a public inquiry, the ICAC subsequently sought criminal charges in relation to evidence he provided during his compulsory examination.
Court documents reveal the ICAC will allege Saravinovski provided misleading evidence on three instances between September 21 and October 5, 2022. Each offence relates to property developer Ali Abrahim (also known as Ali Ibrahim), who had a longstanding proposal to build a car park in Brighton-Le-Sands, a suburb in Sydney’s inner south.
The first offence alleges Saravinovski told ICAC investigators that he did not have “a personal relationship or dealings” with Abrahim as of November 2018. It is also alleged that Saravinovski claimed he did not provide Abrahim with “access to confidential documents” on January 25, 2022.
The last offence alleges the Labor mayor told ICAC investigators he believed the “less than significant non-pecuniary interest” he declared in relation to the matter was a full disclosure.
Saravinovski was approached for comment in person and via his lawyer. His matter has been adjourned until November 20.
Codenamed Operation Aspen, the ICAC’s investigation never proceeded to public inquiry. The matter was referred to the Office of Local Government in December 2022, which decided to pursue allegations of misconduct in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal 15 months later.
