A PROMINENT Mount Gambier plasterer will remain on bail following an Adelaide court yesterday refusing to throw out the case relating to an alleged $150m prison development rort.
Matthew Laurie Patzel, 47, faces charges of two counts of abuse of public office and one count of bribery or corruption of a public officer.
His fellow accused Paul Andrew Robinson – an executive with the Department for Correctional Services – has been charged with two counts of abuse of public office and one count of bribery or corruption of a public officer.
The court was told last year prosecutors have extensive evidence that includes documents and telephone intercept recordings.
According to The Advertiser, full details of the case against Robinson yesterday surfaced in court and revealed accusations he colluded with a plasterer to revamp prison cell design.
Despite the legal team for Robinson calling for the charges to be dismissed, Magistrate Greg Fisher yesterday refused, granted an adjournment requested by the prosecutor and remanded the duo on continuing bail until May.
Prosecutors told the court the duo’s concept was driven by Robinson’s inside knowledge of the State Government’s agenda, The Advertiser reported.
“Robinson was employed by the department in the role of asset services and became aware of the redevelopment of Yatala Labour Prison,” the prosecutor told the court.
“He had access to various confidential information that he disclosed to Patzel, which they used to design a modular prison cell.
“They completed a registration of interest with the intent to obtain a contract to manufacture the cell for Yatala to benefit themselves in the order of at least several million dollars.
“Robinson did not disclose his (conflicting) interest … Patzel was the front man, Robinson worked behind the scenes.”
Robinson is currently suspended from the Department for Correctional Services and has yet to enter a plea to the charges.
Patzel – who is the managing director of MG Plasterers – has also yet to plea.
According to a details released last year, it will be alleged that between June 1, 2018 and July 15, 2019, the men colluded to corrupt the tender and procurement processes associated with the $150m redevelopment of the Yatala Labour Prison in order to “financially benefit” themselves.
In a statement released by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander in mid-July, the arrest of the two men followed an “extensive and long-running” investigation.
“The investigation is ongoing and further arrests and charges may result,” Mr Lander said.
This included the execution of nine search warrants.
“I believe there are people in the business sector who were involved in the recent tender process for the Yatala Labour Prison redevelopment management contract and other persons who were involved in a recent expression of interest process for the modular design of prison cells, who are aware of the public officer’s alleged activities,” Mr Lander said.
“I expect that those members of the business sector will co-operate with the ongoing investigation.”
