HAVING lost a $50,000 set of gold chains worn at ceremonial occasions by the Mayor of the Borough of Wonthaggi, including former Victorian MP Allan Brown for three years, the Bass Coast Shire Council appears to have lost its report of the alleged theft to police.
At last Wednesday’s council meeting, Inverloch resident Kevin Griffin asked during community question time if the council would make available “a complete and unedited copy of Council’s written report of theft to Victoria Police”.
In response, the shire CEO Greg Box said clearly: “A copy of the report has been attached to the back of the Council Minutes.”
In fact a copy of the council’s report to police wasn’t attached to the back of the Council Minutes.
What was included in the minutes was “VP Form L1 – Notice to the Victim”, a police document dated October 10, 2018 listing the location of an unidentified incident as 76 McBride Avenue Wonthaggi, the council’s address, but including few other details beyond the name of the investigating officer, Senior Constable Thomas Rynberk and the “principal victim” Noel McRae.
There is no mention of the missing items, whether they are believed stolen and when they went missing. Nothing.
Kevin Griffin says it’s not good enough.
“I previously asked for the police report, and they said they didn’t have one, now this arrives,” said Mr Griffin.
“This time I asked for the council’s report to police, and they produce a police victim’s statement.
“It’s starting to assume the look of a cover up.
“All we want to know is what happened and whether the matter was properly reported to police at the time, whether it was followed up and what became of the police investigation.
“It’s a reasonable question to ask given the value and significance of the public property that was stolen,” he said.
The "police report" included in the Bass Coast Shire Council Minutes from the June 19 council meeting:
