The former Ipswich City Council chief executive, his wife and two businessmen have all admitted official corruption after a kickback scheme for council contracts was foiled during a graft probe.
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Carl Wulff, Sharon Oxenbridge and Brisbane business consultant Wayne Myers sat together in the Brisbane District Court dock with businessman Claude Walker on Thursday, following a wide-ranging investigation into southeast Queensland councils by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Crown prosecutor Sam Bain told the sentencing hearing that over $240,000 in corrupt payments were made to Wulff using cash-filled envelopes, gifts and a complex company arrangement set up to hide his activities.
Mr Bain said Wulff's corruption was a serious breach of his responsibility as chief executive officer, which breached local government laws related to transparency and ethical behaviour.
"It was sophisticated. He utilised a company structure to camouflage payments and the invoices rendered and the letter of agreement was to give the appearance of a bona-fide agreement," he said.
Wulff pleaded guilty to two counts of official corruption and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Bain said Myers, a former lobbyist and self-employed business consultant who met Wulffe through his old friend and former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale, acted a paid fixer who "greased the wheels" of business deals.
Myers, he said, helped a landfill company headed by Wayne Innes win contracts from the ICC through Wulffe.
"Myers and Innes came to a verbal agreement that Innes would pay Myers approximately 30 per cent of his profits from any works he received," he said.
A total of 25 invoices worth $585,000 were issued by Myers, with $523,000 paid, Mr Bain said.
"The money ultimately paid to Wulffe was disseminated from those payments," he said.
Myers pleaded guilty to one charge of official corruption.
Mr Bain said Wulffe's wife of 18 years, Oxenbridge, involved herself in a significant way in the crimes.
"She has allowed Wulffe to use her email and to utilise the company structure, Bojangle Pty Ltd, and to falsely invoice the corrupt payments," he said.
"She not only aided but encouraged that arrangement."
Oxenbridge pleaded guilty to one count of official corruption.
Mr Walker also pleaded guilty to one count of official corruption for paying $104,000 to Wulffe for contracts related to the council's flood recovery work in early 2012.
"He told Wulffe he was very blessed to be able to provide services to the ICC and receive a healthy income from that ... he made it clear he was happy to pay some cash," he said.
The sentencing was adjourned until February 15.
Wulffe was remanded custody and bail was extended for Oxenbridge, Myers and Walker.
Outside the court, the Ipswich Council announced that Wollongong City Council general manager David Farm will start as CEO from February 4 next year.
Mr Farm said he was committed to restoring public confidence and trust in the council.
Australian Associated Press
