A former public servant, who was found guilty yesterday of encouraging a builder to supply a false invoice for $8200, was today sentenced at Brisbane District Court to a suspended nine months’ gaol term.
Former Public Works Department employee Don Mervyn Samartunga was found guilty of the serious offence following a Crime and Misconduct investigation into matters surrounding Public Works tendering processes.
The builder, Jan Thorsen, who won a contract with the Works Department in 1999, realised after completing the contract that he had underquoted for the contract work.
He approached Samartunga who said there was no possibility Thorsen could increase his price.
Samartunga then encouraged Thorsen to submit an invoice for $8200 worth of fictitious landscaping and other work.
Thorsen eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying a false invoice and was sentenced in 2004.
Judge Neil McLaughlan today sentenced Samartunga to nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years.
Samartunga was allowed three months to pay restitution of $7500.
Judge McLaughlan said Samartunga committed a serious offence of dishonesty – made more serious as he was a public servant with control over public monies.
The judge described Samartunga’s actions as a gross breach of trust.
ENDS
