Former Victorian Education Department executives tried to wipe all evidence of alleged corruption from their computers while they were under investigation by the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption of Commission, an inquiry has heard.
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Chief executive of IT company DyCom Group, Mark Stecher, admitted in an IBAC hearing that he agreed to wipe the external hard drive, PC and laptop of sacked finance manager Nino Napoli in late 2014. Mr Stecher said he did this at Mr Napoli's request, after Mr Napoli said he was worried about incriminating material on his computer.
It was also heard that former acting secretary of the department Jeff Rosewarne asked Mr Stecher to wipe his computer before IBAC had executed a search warrant. However, files were not deleted from Mr Rosewarne's computer, as it was kept at his ex-wife's house.
IBAC heard Mr Stecher was a friend of Mr Napoli's for 26 years, and provided IT service and support to the Victorian Education department and schools since 1989.
Mr Stecher admitted three computers he leased to the department were paid for by Moonee Ponds West Primary School and Essendon North Primary School in 2005. He also admitted that he provided Mr Rosewarne with computers and installed them at his home, at the department's expense.
Another witness hauled to IBAC was Gus Napoli, brother of Nino Napoli, who is on leave from his position as principal of John Fawkner Secondary College.
A covert recording played to IBAC from May last year, showed Gus and Nino coaching Nino's son Raffaele to tell IBAC authorities that he performed work at several Victorian schools, despite not having done the work at all.
It was previously heard that Nino's sons, Raffaele and Matthew Napoli, were paid for work at schools that they did not do. Matthew Napoli is still employed at John Fawkner College.
In the recording, the Napolis appear to be cooking a false story that Raffaele worked at Essendon North Primary School, and they discuss that the school's former principal Michael Giulieri would go along with the story.
Gus can be heard advising Raffaele to say he worked on an after school program, and to say: "I ran a bit of this, a bit of that."
When asked by Council Assisting Ian Hill QC, whether he was telling Raffaele to lie to IBAC, Gus said: 'I don't believe that was ever my intention".
John Fawkner Secondary College paid $96,265 to two companies owned by Nino's relatives, for printing and consulting work for the school between 2007-14.
A company called R & D Diamond Nominees, which was paid more than $66,000 by the school for printing services, is run by the brother of Gus Napoli, Robert Napoli. Another company, called Four Diego's and paid nearly $30,000 by the school, was directed by Mr Napoli's brother-in-law, Ralph Barba.
Gus admitted that in August 2012, he set up a "working party" with other staff members to grant a consultancy contract for a school program to Mr Barba, but failed to inform the group of their family connection.
He claimed both companies were granted contracts by the school on merit.
IBAC is investigating about $2.5 million in potentially corrupt transactions between 2007 and 2014, with a large amount allegedly going to Mr Napoli's extended family. The money was allegedly funnelled through banker schools, where the funds were meant to be shared with local schools.
