A former Keilor Heights Primary School principal has been convicted in the County Courtand placed on a two-year good behaviour bond following a major investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct by senior officers of the Department of Education and Training (DET).
Michael Giulieri, former principal, Keilor Heights Primary School (and formerly principal, Essendon North Primary School) pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to attempt to pervert the course of justice, and wilfully making a statement to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission which is false or misleading.
Mr Giulieri provided a witness statement to IBAC and will give evidence for the prosecution. He was one of six people charged with a range of criminal offences as a result of IBAC’s Operation Ord.
Operation Ord examined the conduct of then senior officers of DET and others, in connection with the use of ‘banker schools’ and related activities.
IBAC’s investigation focused on allegations that senior departmental officers misappropriated funds from the Department’s budget, through false and inflated invoicing as well as arranging payment of inappropriate expenses such as excessive hospitality, travel and personal items.
As part of Operation Ord, IBAC held public hearings between April and June, 2015, and tabled a special report to Parliament in April, 2016.
The next committal hearings for Operation Ord are scheduled for August 30, 2017, at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
