Source : Perth Now news
Former NSW minister John Sidoti has vowed to fight a misconduct in public office charge, stating the allegations against him have wrecked his life and left him determined to clear his name.
Mr Sidoti has been charged with one count of misconduct in public office and is due to face court on July 16, in a case arising from the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption’s 2022 Operation Witney investigation.
In a statement on Tuesday, the former Berejiklian government minister said he intended to contest the allegation and welcomed the court process.
“My life has been ruined and I’ve never told my side of the story, I’ve never been able to give my version of events,” Mr Mr Sidoti said.
“If you read those stories, they’re just so far from the truth, it’s not funny and there’s been no accountability at all.
“I welcome the opportunity because I want to get on with my life and I want to clear my name, and this has been the first opportunity I’ve had in that process.”
The charge comes after ICAC’s report into Operation Witney found Sidoti had “engaged in a protracted course of conduct to try to improperly influence” Canada Bay Liberal councillors between late 2013 and February 2017.
The watchdog found he repeatedly contacted and lobbied councillors while seeking planning changes that would have lifted the development potential of properties owned by him and his family, including changes that would have allowed taller buildings on the sites.
“The outcomes that Mr Sidoti wanted those councillors to deliver were entirely directed to his private interest in increasing the development potential of his family’s growing number of properties in and around the town centre,” ICAC said in its 2022 report.
That report said ICAC would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether prosecution action should be taken. The matter has now been brought before the court by the DPP.
Mr Sidoti stepped aside to the crossbench in 2021 while the corruption investigation was under way and did not contest the 2023 state election.
