By Brendan Rees
A key figure in an IBAC corruption investigation and a former Casey mayor has taken aim at his fellow councillors after they reluctantly granted a request for extended paid leave.
At a public council meeting on Tuesday 4 February, councillors voted for embattled councillor Sam Aziz a leave of absence until 31 March citing medical grounds.
Cr Aziz is one of the keys players in the Casey land scandal where it’s alleged he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars from a developer in exchange for favourable planning decisions.
Cr Aziz made a dash to Egypt last November before the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) conducted its hearings.
Casey mayor Susan Serey said at the meeting the decision to grant Cr Aziz had “not been made lightly,” and “the situation is less than ideal”.
She said council was bound by their obligations under the Local Government Act, which fell “far short from what I know our community expects.
“Councillors around the table feel the same way,” Cr Serey said.
“Having considered the medical advice provided by Cr Aziz in support of his application, as well as the legal advice which has reiterated our obligation to not unreasonably refuse leave, believe we had no alternative to do otherwise.
“I want to stress that my councillor colleagues sitting around this table wouldn’t have voted for this motion unless it had potentially other serious legal implications for the city of Casey and its ratepayers,” Cr Serey said.
In a Facebook message, Cr Aziz hit back at the mayor, labelling her statement as “denigrating”.
“Tonight council approved a further leave of absence for me after I submitted a detailed medical report explaining why I am not able to return to duty at this stage,” Cr Aziz’s statement said.
“That was a report and not just a ‘medical certificate’.
“I have remained deliberately silent since this ordeal started in November last year, in what has become a media circus, and a savage feeding frenzy by certain fringe groups and keyboard warriors, who have always had an axe to grind,” his statement read.
“It appears that sober and fair assessment has completely gone out the window, despite the undeniable success of the City of Casey, and our obvious record in delivering world class infrastructure and excellent services for our residents, supported by a very efficient and financially lean administration”.
But Cr Aziz stated he had “every intention of returning to duty, and as soon as I can,“ adding councillors were aware of his medical condition which he says was diagnosed in May last year.
In the statement, he said he did finish the “work I have been doing overseas” and changed a return flight home from 8 December to 19 November last year, and had “paid a significant non-refundable fare difference to do so.”
“However, I was prevented from boarding the aircraft at check-in due to a very serious cardiac health condition.
“The mayor was given documentary evidence of this flight change, as well as detailed medical evidence of the progress of my health condition,” Cr Aziz stated.
Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek said he expected councillors “to turn up to meetings and do their job”.
“Under the Local Government Act, the office of a councillor becomes vacant if they are absent from four ordinary meetings of the council without obtaining leave,” Mr Somyurek said.
This week, the State Government announced it would extend the tenure of Casey monitor Laurinda Gardner until 11 February.
Ms Garner was originally due to provide her report on councillor governance and decision-making to the Minister by 31 January, following her appointment on 27 November last year.
Mr Somyurek said he would “carefully consider” the monitor’s report “to determine if any further intervention is warranted at the council, and respond in due course”.
Meanwhile, Liberal MP for Gembrook Brad Battin called on Casey councillors to “step down immediately.”
“It may sound unfair, but the Casey councillors should step down, remove all risk to the company and have administrators appointed until all these matters are resolved,” he said.
The Casey Ratepayers and Residents Association spokesman Brendan Browne council’s decision to grant Cr Aziz leave was not what ratepayers deserved.
“We just can’t have this ongoing situation … the State Government needs to act and dismiss them,” he said.
IBAC examinations will restart on 2 March and are open to the public.
