Three former Wollongong councillors could face up to five years' jail or fines of up to $22,000 if they are convicted on criminal charges being pursued by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The ICAC yesterday confirmed the prosecution of three former Labor councillors for allegedly providing false or misleading information during its investigations into corruption at Wollongong City Council.
Kiril Jonovski, Zeki Esen and Frank Gigliotti have each been served with court attendance notices after ICAC received new advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Jonovski yesterday told the Mercury he had "no comment at all". Mr Esen and Mr Gigliotti did not answer phone calls.
Mr Jonovski will be prosecuted for two offences under the ICAC Act - allegedly furnishing false or misleading information and giving false or misleading evidence at a public inquiry.
Mr Esen will face one count of allegedly furnishing false or misleading information and two counts of giving misleading evidence at the inquiry.
Mr Gigliotti is being prosecuted for the same two alleged offences and will face a further three charges - making a false statement to an ICAC officer and two counts of intentionally making a false statement in a statutory declaration.
The charges stem from Commissioner Jerrold Cripps' recommendations last October that 11 people be prosecuted.
He recommended the three councillors be prosecuted for making a false statement in relation to a meeting with developer Frank Vellar at the Flame Tree Cafe in Wollongong.
He also recommended the trio be prosecuted for giving false evidence during the hearings about the same meeting and about their reasons for not disclosing their roles with Quattro Employment Services as a pecuniary interest.
Mr Gigliotti was recommended for further charges relating to a statutory declaration.
Giving false evidence at a public inquiry carries a maximum penalty of five years' jail. Maximum penalties for the other offences are 12 months' jail or a $5500 fine, or four years' jail for making a false statement in a statutory declaration.
Commissioner Cripps recommended that all three be prosecuted for "corruptly soliciting a benefit", but none has been charged with corruption.
The ICAC confirmed yesterday it was still awaiting advice from the DPP on whether to pursue other matters involving Mr Gigliotti.
The corruption watchdog is also awaiting advice from the DPP on whether to prosecute the other eight individuals that Commissioner Cripps recommended be considered for criminal charges.
They are former council employees Beth Morgan and Joe Scimone, councillor Val Zanotto, developers Mr Vellar, Glen Tabak and Lou Tasich, and alleged conmen Ray Younan and Gerald Carroll.
Two other senior Wollongong City Council staff - former general manager Rod Oxley and development assessment and compliance manager John Gilbert - also had findings of corrupt conduct made against them by the ICAC. Neither was recommended to face criminal charges.
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