ACT public servant to fight allegations of bribery over kickback request
An ACT public servant who allegedly asked for a $100,000 kickback from a government contractor pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a charge of bribery.
Police allegations, tendered in court on an earlier occasion, said Christopher David Hocking, 38, had met the contractor in January through a tender to complete work on an ACT school.
Mr Hocking allegedly told the contractor to drop their bid on another project by $50,000 and they would get a "shot" at a $1 million ACT government street extension project.
The contractor became concerned and told his business partners as it was their understanding that it was not government practice to openly discuss tenders.
The following day, during a meeting, Mr Hocking is accused of telling the contractor to turn his phone off before then asking for the cash payout.
The contractor said he would need to get back to him and Mr Hocking allegedly replied: "I don't want to do any little hand overs of money, we do it once and be done with it".
"I see it working like this, you hand me a bag of untraceable cash, meet me at a carpark ... and leave a bag that I'll pick up."
It is alleged Mr Hocking then told the contractor that he had "over $3 million to spend in the next six months", in reference to government contracts to award.
The contractor again spoke to his business partners, who took legal advice before reporting the conversation to police.
In the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, Mr Hocking's solicitor Jacob Robertson entered a plea of not guilty to the charge on his client's behalf.
The matter will return to court on October 2.