Amendments Make For A Killing
Posted on 1 November 2009 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Society
It has been revealed in a hearing that a security company made a killing in profits from the 2007 amendments to the NSW Australian security industry legislation. Amendments that were intended to upgrade licensed guards and improve standards across the industry.
Ahmed Moosani’s Sydney company, Roger Training Academy, gave out industry-recognized certificates, signifying the recipients had received training in security guarding and responsible practices in serving alcohol and the conduct of gambling. All the candidates had to do was pass under-the-table payments of up to $500.
On one occasion he accepted an opal worth $4,000 in return for a provisional security guard license.
ICAC (the Independent Commission Against Corruption) was informed that Moosani had deposited at least $1.3 million into a bank account between August 2008 and April 2009. The company earned even more than that.
Security guard trainer for the company, Dru Hyland bragged to a friend that he had made $150,000 in just five months. He bought a new motorbike, a four wheel drive and took his wife to Vanuatu on holiday. Hyland earned $250 per shift for running the RPL course, and $150 for every student he encouraged through the door.
Hyland and Moosani have been accused of certifying security guards without any face-to-face teaching. They also gave students the answers to assessment questions.
Counsel assisting the commissioner, Carolyn Davenport SC, said guards were even issued the required first aid certificates without any training, just as long as under-the-table payments of $100 to $150 were made to the company. “Certification could be obtained through Roger simply by paying the money and obtaining the necessary workbook, as well as a book or CD containing the answers to the questions in the workbook.”
Hyland admitted to the hearing the training was “valueless”. He also admitted forging one guard’s literacy and numeracy tests and the enrolment form, in case he was audited. Certificates were also issued to anyone who didn’t want to do the course.
In her opening address to the inquiry, Ms Davenport said Roger Training Academy had became known in the industry for fast-tracking guards through its Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) course – as long as individuals or security firms paid course fees of $350 to $500.
A review of security at the highly sensitive Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney, (where security guards had been certified as trained by Roger Academy) was launched at the beginning of August, after members of an alleged terrorist cell plotted to storm the base, television stations and other high profile organizations.
The hearing continues.
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1 November 2009
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Thanks for bringing this scandal to my attention.
I once sent a message to a Labor premier in NSW saying “More power to the ICAC!” – he had been engaged in denigrating the ICAC re something they had done that didn’t suit him. I sent my thoughts to my local representative too.
These sorts of scandals need to be widely denounced. Thanks,
Jan