Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli guilty of fraud
A former Ipswich mayor has been found guilty of fraud after using council funds to buy goods and services at charity auctions.
Andrew Francis Antoniolli, 48, was tried in May on 12 counts of fraud and one count of attempted fraud.
It followed a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation that had led to the sacking of the entire Ipswich City Council in 2018.
In Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday, Antoniolli was found guilty of all charges.
"The defendant exhibited dishonest intent," magistrate Anthony Gett said.
Antoniolli contravened council policy, instructed charities to lie on their donation request forms and hid the purchases from the council, he said.
During the trial, defence lawyer Peter Callaghan, SC, had argued the evidence painted a picture of a poor culture at the council but not criminality.
He said Antoniolli had followed an unwritten council policy communicated by senior staff when he successfully bid on items.
They included a $3200 bicycle, numerous artworks, a signed rugby jersey and a gym membership between 2005 and 2017, while he was a councillor and mayor.
The court was told some items Antoniolli bought were never collected and others were left at the council chambers or re-gifted to other community groups.
Mr Gett said this was "immaterial".
Antoniolli will be sentenced on July 30.
AAP