ICAC targets TAFE IT manager over alleged $1.7m fraud

NSW’s corruption watchdog is preparing to launch yet another inquiry into alleged misconduct at the hands of an IT manager in the state’s education and training sector.

Just one month after wrapping up its investigation into Brett Roberts, who was found to have defrauded several state universities of more than $114,000, ICAC has turned its gaze to the TAFE sector.

On August 17 it will hold hearings into IT manager Ronald Cordoba, who stands accused of having “dishonestly exercised his public official duties” to obtain $1.7 million from his employer, TAFE’s South Western Sydney Institute (SWSI).

According to his Linkedin profile, Cordoba has worked as IT manager at SWSI TAFE’s Macquarie Fields headquarters since November 2012.

Prior to that he served as assistant director of the IT and electrotechnology faculty of the same institute for over three years. He has also held CIO roles at Wynrecruitment and ICT Medical Solutions.

ICAC will claim that between January and July last year, Cordoba abused his position to authorise the payment of false invoices and purchase orders between the institute and his own business, Storm Solutions.

Cordoba is also accused of misleading a TAFE supplier into paying him an additional $55,000 by claiming he had been authorised by the training institute to carry out work as a subcontractor.

In past years the commission has dug up a number of fraud and probity weaknesses inside the IT support wings of NSW universities, training organisations and the education department.

Prior to its investigation into Brett Roberts, ICAC also uncovered evidence of nepotism and preferential dealing amongst IT staff at Sydney University.

In 2014 an IT contractor to NSW Education was jailed over a 2007 contracts-for-kickbacks scandal.