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copperbullion
Penny Pincher Member
Australia
136 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2008 : 09:38:21
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Rail team filmed dividing the spoils
Linton Besser Transport Reporter
May 9, 2008
Latest related coverage
THE disgraced RailCorp team leader George Laidlaw divided thousands of dollars between himself and two subordinates in a copper-stealing scam captured on film by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
One of the three, railway worker Christian Hansen, was filmed delivering coils of scrap copper stolen from RailCorp yards to another railway mate, John Tomsett, who ran a metal recycling business on the side.
In one part of the film, as Mr Tomsett hands Mr Hansen $300 in cash, he is heard talking about the commission investigation that has ensnared the entire team.
"I know I've got nothing to worry about," Mr Hansen said.
"Oh, that's right," Mr Tomsett replied. "He [George Laidlaw] has made his bed, f--- him, he can f---ing sleep in, the c---."
The pair moved on to the issue at hand.
"Um, I've gotta give you this, Louis [Kotevski] said that, bloody small," Mr Tomsett said, referring to the money. "It is so small [compared with] what we normally do."
They sold the metal on at least three occasions, the commission heard yesterday, one time netting almost $6000.
The public inquiry into RailCorp, now in its seventh week, was told that Mr Laidlaw organised the scam, a contractor, Mr Kotevski, helped collect and load the copper into a truck, and Mr Hansen delivered the copper to a property in Wallacia, where the exchange took place.
"Who gave you the $1000 [cut]?" asked counsel assisting the inquiry, Chris Ronalds, SC.
"I think it was George," Mr Hansen said.
Recalled to the stand later, Mr Laidlaw confirmed he had divided up $5700 in cash from one such deal.
In another recorded telephone conversation, Mr Hansen explained to a colleague why excavator operators working for Mr Laidlaw were doing double shifts, contrary to the rules.
"George wants to get his house paid off before he retires," he said. "That is what it all comes down to."
Ms Ronalds then asked Mr Hansen: "The reason Mr Laidlaw gives them double shifts is because they give him money?"
"I have got no idea," Mr Hansen replied.
Earlier yesterday, telephone intercepts revealed Mr Laidlaw organising a "debrief" meeting with several contractors after he was tipped off about the commission investigation.
On February 5 a RailCorp manager, Graham Thorley, warned Mr Laidlaw: "The next round is starting with 'if caught, act clean'.
"They [the commission] pulled all the plant dockets and orders for that job of ours at Sandown."
"You are kidding," Mr Laidlaw replied.
"That's the one I looked at and my name's not on anything," Mr Thorley said.
"Yes, I know, I was there when you had a look, remember," Mr Laidlaw said. "My name's on the c--- though."
Mr Laidlaw has denied allegations that he laundered cash payments by sending them to his mother in Britain and then brought them back to Australia as gifts.
In a telephone intercept from August 18 last year, he told his friend and fellow railway worker Brett Schliebs that he was headed overseas again.
"What are you going back over to England for - are you just going over for an overnighter?" Mr Schliebs asked, laughing. "Work-related overnighter?"
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