Former Perth councillor charged with fraud
A former City of Perth councillor has been charged with fraud offences following a lengthy inquiry into the dysfunctional and scandal-plagued local government.
Police say in August 2017, the 54-year-old man used a sham lease at an East Perth property to enable ineligible voters to enrol for a council election.
It is also alleged that between September 2015 and March 2017, he made three false claims for allowances.
He is due to face Perth Magistrates Court on July 13 charged with forging a record, uttering a forged record and three counts of gaining a benefit by fraud.
The inquiry was launched following a failure by Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi to disclose travel and gifts, reports of infighting between councillors, two chief executives taking stress leave and the suspension of the council in March 2018.
Commissioner Tony Power delivered his lengthy report this week, with more than 250 findings and 341 recommendations, revealing 23 people and one organisation had been referred for possible prosecution.
