Former CBA IT exec charged with bribery
A former Commonwealth Bank of Australia IT executive, Keith Hunter, was arrested and charged on Tuesday with bribery as part of an ongoing joint investigation between the New South Wales Police's fraud and cybercrime squad and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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The 61-year-old was charged with two counts of bribery, after police alleged that he and another former CBA employee -- both Sydney-based US nationals -- were involved in accepting more than $1.5 million in suspected corrupt payments with a now publicly listed US-based IT company.
It is alleged that the managers had received payments from the IT company involved after they granted the company a lucrative contract without putting it to public tender.
A CBA spokesperson has informed ZDNet that the bank tipped off the police earlier this year, after internal investigations were carried out. It was discovered that some suspicious payments were deposited into the bank accounts of two of its former senior IT staff members. The case was then referred to the NSW Police fraud and cybercrime squad's corporate corruption unit.
However, NSW Police has highlighted that while an arrest has been made, investigations continue and police are keen to speak to another former senior IT manager, who is currently overseas.
The CBA spokesperson said it will continue to fully cooperate with NSW Police while investigations continue.
"We have no tolerance for any illegal activity by any employee, and we take every situation seriously," the spokesperson said.
"We confirm that no customer has been affected by this matter."
Hunter appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday, and pleaded not guilty to two counts of bribery. He was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, report to police daily, and not enter an airport.
With AAP
Updated at 15:42 AEDST: Added result of today's court appearance.