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Suspended Hawkesbury City Councillor Eddie Dogramaci appeared at a directions hearing in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday, 20 March, where the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped two of the three charges he was facing.
The charges related to allegations that Cr Dogramaci obtained financial advantage by deception through a $4,000 claim for computer equipment intended to assist with constituent matters. The two charges dropped were:
- Making a false document, contrary to s253(b)(ii) of the Crimes Act 1900
- Misconduct in public office, contrary to common law
Police visited Cr Dogramaci at his home to inform him of the charges, after receiving a complaint from Hawkesbury City Council. According to Cr Dogramaci the Council had not previously raised concerns about the matter with him before contacting law enforcement.
The handling of the case has raised questions among local residents and governance observers about the way Hawkesbury City Council manages councillors’ expense claims. In many other councils, potential issues with expense claims are first addressed through internal mechanisms before involving police.
In this instance, it is alleged that no internal resolution process was used before Cr Dogramaci, a vocal Council critic, was confronted with criminal charges.
Nine months after being charged, Cr Dogramaci’s legal team, who are still waiting to see the brief of evidence before the matter can progress through the court system, did not comment on the remaining charge.
The cost of this action to Hawkesbury Council is not yet known.
Meanwhile, Hawkesbury Liberal Councillors are so confident of Cr Dogramaci's conviction that they are allegedly floating names of potential candidates to stand for the vacancy this would create, including close friend of Deputy Mayor Sarah McMahon, former Mayor Patrick Conolly.
