A candidate in the 2016 Wyndham council election has been convicted and fined after failing to declare who donated, and how much, to her election campaign.
Werribee Magistrate Jennifer Grubissa heard the case of Helen Simeonidis (also known as Helen Fanakopoulou and Eleni Fanakopoulou) ex parte last Tuesday after the accused did not appear in court for a mention.
After hearing the dates and details of emails, phone calls and registered letters sent to the accused, Magistrate Grubissa was critical of Mrs Simeonidis’s failure to lodge a campaign donation return and ordered her to pay a $1500 fine and $1000 in court costs.
Two other candidates facing the same charge, Wanli (Lucy) Jiang and Sahra Ashkir, had their matters adjourned until April 17.
Chief municipal inspector David Wolf said lodging a campaign donation return was an integral part of the election process. Candidates must submit campaign donation returns when they receive any gifts or donations over the value of $500.
“A key factor in the integrity of local government is ensuring transparency on who has financially supported candidates and councillors,” he said.
“While we don’t take prosecution lightly, it is important that we pursue these matters and allow the courts to determine the seriousness of the offence.”
