A 46-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were arrested during a Taskforce Hawk raid in Mount Eliza on Wednesday, 9 September, as police investigated alleged corruption linked to the construction industry.
Police allege people associated with a Victorian labour hire company provided corrupting benefits to Queensland-based CFMEU officials to influence their duties.
The woman is a director of a labour hire company.
Detectives executed six warrants across Victoria and Queensland, including at the CFMEU’s Brisbane office. Electronic devices and documents were seized for examination, according to Victoria Police.
Man Charged In Separate Investigation
The Mount Eliza man was charged with making a false document in a separate Taskforce Hawk investigation. Police said the charge was unrelated to the corruption investigation behind Wednesday’s raids.
He was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 1 December.
The woman was subsequently released without charge pending further inquiries, The Australian reported.
Earlier Taskforce Hawk Operation In Somerville
The arrests follow another local Taskforce Hawk operation reported by STPL News on 24 August, when a 37-year-old Somerville man was among five men arrested.
That investigation concerned alleged secret commissions, fraud and drug trafficking. The Somerville man was released pending further enquiries and had not been charged at the time of that report.
Wednesday’s corruption investigation began in July and remains ongoing. Detectives intend to prepare a brief for assessment by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, police said.
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