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Former South Australian public servant convicted for fabricating CV to attain high-paid government job

Publisher
ABC
Date published
December 2019

Relevant impacts: Government outcomes impact, Reputational impact, Security impact, Financial impact.

A former top Adelaide bureaucrat who lied on her CV to secure her lucrative SA Government position was sentenced to 25 months in jail on charges of deception, dishonestly dealing with documents and abuse of public office. Charges were levied following an investigation by the South Australian Independent Commission Against Corruption, which found maladministration in the process that resulted in the woman's employment.

The investigation also uncovered a pattern of fabricated documents submitted in support of the woman's application, which included a falsified payslip, a forged letter from a doctor, and fake references for the application. The woman then used her position to award her brother a government contract for $21,000.

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Related countermeasures

Establish governance, accountability and oversight of processes by using delegations and requiring committees and project boards to oversee critical decisions and risk. Good governance, accountability and oversight increases transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud.

Clearly document decision-makers using delegations, authorisations and instructions. Clearly defined decision-making powers increase transparency and reduce the opportunity for fraud and corruption.

Provide staff with adequate training to increase likelihood that correct and consistent processes and decisions will be applied.

Authenticate customer or third-party identities during each interaction to confirm the person owns the identity record they are trying to access.

Verify any requests or claim information you receive with an independent and credible source.

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