Western Sydney Airport official who sought $200k kickback narrowly avoids jail time
Sajish Erasery pleaded guilty to soliciting a corrupt commission after he attempted to invite a bribe from a company vying for a $5 million contract to provide automated parking systems at the soon-to-be completed airport.
The anti-corruption watchdog found the former executive procurement manager had initially proposed he could "get the deal over the line" if he received $250,000, which equated to 5 per cent of the contract's value.
The NACC said in a statement Erasery later reduced this figure to $200,000 and suggested a scheme to repay the business by inflating invoices.
The Australian Federal Police arrested the man in March 2024 after his former employer referred the matter to the commission.
He has been sentenced to two years' jail, which will be served in the community and require him to complete 500 hours of community service.
The airport is due to be complete in 2026.
Erasery is the first person to be sentenced following an investigation initiated by the NACC.
Since the watchdog's inception, there have been convictions in nine other cases which were inherited from the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity in July 2023.
The latest of those cases involved Anne McCann, a former Department of Home Affairs immigration officer, who abused power in public office by approving a visa application for her brother-in-law.
Both matters were prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
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