Push to put hold on fraud cases

LAWYERS for a former Cape York council executive and mayor facing serious fraud charges are expected to make an application to halt the case.

Lee Robertson, who is the former chief executive of Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, is accused of fraudulently paying himself a $500,000 severance package before leaving the role.

Co-accused Hope Vale exmayor Greg McLean is charged over allegedly receiving fraudulent payments totalling more than $50,000.

Barrister Peter Feeney, for Mr Robertson, told the Cairns District Court that a “compelled statement” given during a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation had been obtained by the Director of Public Prosecutions and Mr McLean.

“I’m not suggesting for a moment that anyone’s set out in some calculating way to do that,” Mr Feeney said, adding that it was likely he would make a stay application in relation to the matter.

The court heard that there had been some delays because lawyers for both co-accused ACCUSED: Lee Robertson (left) and Greg McLean. had signed confidentiality agreements with the CCC and were unable to discuss their respective positions.

Mr Feeney said his client had applied and was no longer bound by those agreements.

“But there is a hitch, Mr Perkins can’t talk to us about the matters we want to discuss,” Mr Feeney said, adding that his confidentiality agreement was still in place.

Defence solicitor Derek Perkins, for Mr McLean, told the court that he intended to make a permanent stay application.

He said he also planned to apply to the CCC to have his and his client’s confidentiality agreement lifted “to have meaningful discussions” with Mr Robertson’s lawyers.

Judge Tracy Fantin set the matters down on December 11 for any applications, expected to take about four hours.