Two men charged by Victoria's construction sector corruption taskforce

Victoria Police charge man over alleged $424,000 in fraud as part of secret commission investigationPosted Tue 1 Sep 2026 at 2:17pmTue 1 Sep 2026 at 2:17pm, updated Tue 1 Sep 2026 at 2:21pmTue 1 Sep 2026 at 2:21pmIn short:Two men have been arrested by Victoria Police's anti-corruption taskforce, with allegations one of the men was responsible for more than $424,000 in fraud.Taskforce Hawk detectives say a Wandin East man and a Preston man were charged in relation to an ongoing investigation into secret commissions.It comes following a spate of arrests last week, that saw union headquarters raided and two men charged.Victoria Police's taskforce tackling corruption in the construction industry has arrested and charged two men, one of whom is alleged to have defrauded nearly half a million dollars through kickbacks and secret commissions. Detectives from Taskforce Hawk joined members of the anti-organised crime VIPER Taskforce executing warrants at two homes in Wandin East and Preston shortly after 7:15am on Tuesday.A 45-year-old Wandin East man was arrested and later charged with obtain financial advantage by deception, make false document and use false document.Victoria Police has described a secret commission as "corruptly giving, receiving or soliciting an undisclosed financial benefit, reward, payment or kickback".It is alleged the Wandin East man defrauded more than $424,000.Police said the man was also subject to a Firearm Prohibition Order, and failed to notify authorities of a change of address within 24 hours.He has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 3.A 38-year-old Preston man was also arrested and charged with make false document. He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on December 4. Alleged corruption crackdown continues across MelbourneVictoria Police said today's arrests form part of an ongoing investigation by Taskforce Hawk into serious allegations of secret commissions, as well as drug trafficking and fraud.Last week, police raided six properties across the city, including the CBD headquarters of the Victorian branch of the CFMEU, arresting five men as part of an investigation. Detectives were seen leaving the CFMEU office following the raid last week with bagged evidence. (ABC News)A 36-year-old Chirnside Park man was arrested and charged with drug offences, while a 46-year-old Westbury man was charged with firearm offences.Taskforce Hawk was set up in June 2024 to investigate criminal behaviour in the construction sector, including the infiltration by outlaw motorcycle gangs of major Victorian government infrastructure projects.Victorian premier Ben Carroll announced a royal commission would be held into corruption in the construction sector.