Arabic version: هيئة مكافحة الفساد توجه اتهامات لموظف سابق في معرض فيكتوريا الوطني بشأن مخطط مزعوم للهواتف

According to ABC News, Victoria’s corruption watchdog has charged a former senior National Gallery of Victoria employee over allegations that he used a work account to buy mobile phones worth millions of dollars and sold them for personal gain.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission alleges the conduct occurred over several years and involved about $8 million worth of devices. The former employee faces eight charges: seven counts of theft and one count of misconduct in public office.

The charges were laid under Operation Sonder, an IBAC investigation established last year. The operation examined allegations of corrupt conduct involving theft and the misuse of the former employee’s position during the six years to September 2025.

IBAC said it will be alleged that the employee misused his position to conceal the alleged conduct. He is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 20.

The NGV, founded in 1861, is Australia’s oldest and most-visited gallery. It operates across two buildings in central Melbourne and its state collection includes nearly 80,000 works.