Bureaucrat accused of stealing $25million from the taxpayer is sacked after being charged with corruption
- A Western Australian government bureaucrat is accused of stealing $25 million
- Department of Communities executive Paul Whyte, 56, was fired on Friday
- He and associate allegedly created false payments to shell companies
A senior bureaucrat accused of Western Australia’s biggest public sector theft has lost his job.
A state government spokesman has confirmed that Paul Whyte, 56, was on Friday terminated from his executive role with the Department of Communities.
‘The state government can confirm that Mr Paul Whyte’s employment has today been terminated,’ they said in a statement.
A state government spokesman has confirmed that Paul Whyte (pictured), 56, was on Friday terminated from his executive role with the Department of Communities
Whyte was hospitalised after an incident, believed to be self harm, at his upmarket Perth home two days after he was charged with two counts of corruption last week (pictured)
Whyte was hospitalised after an incident, believed to be self harm, at his upmarket Perth home two days after he was charged with two counts of corruption last week.
Police allege Whyte and his close associate, 43-year-old physiotherapist Jacob Anthonisz, raised false invoices for more than $2.5 million in payments to two shell companies.
They spent a night in custody before their first appearance in Perth Magistrates Court last week, where prosecutors said further charges were likely as there was evidence of further theft of $20 million to $25 million.
Premier Mark McGowan earlier confirmed on Wednesday that Whyte, whose salary is about $240,000, had been suspended on full pay.
The premier will next week unveil the terms of reference for an inquiry into alleged corruption in the state’s housing authority.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) on Thursday said it was withholding prize money to Whyte and Anthonisz, who have numerous interests in racing, including currently competing horses, broodmares and other progeny.
Whyte and Anthonisz are due to return to court on December 13.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Emergency crews outside the residence of Whyte last week (pictured)