Alan Hugh Bishop, a former chief executive officer of Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Aboriginal Corporation (Garnduwa), has pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to 38 charges brought by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven.
In May 2016 Mr Bishop was charged with dishonestly using his position to gain an advantage for himself or another, contrary to section 265-25(3)(a) of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) (CATSI Act).
It is alleged that from July 2013 to December 2014 Mr Bishop dishonestly used his position as CEO of Garnduwa on 38 occasions to transfer corporation funds into his own personal bank accounts or to a third party, or to have corporation funds paid to him as cash. A total of $239,038.48 was dishonestly used by Mr Bishop.
Garnduwa was established in 1992 and is registered under the CATSI Act. It is a not-for-profit corporation that provides sporting programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Its main source of income is grants from several Commonwealth and state government agencies. Additional income comes from sponsorship and donations.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Woods committed Mr Bishop’s matter to the district court for sentence mention on 23 June 2017. Mr Bishop was ordered to reside at his current address and not to leave Australia.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the matter.
Background
See the Registrar’s previous media releases of 16 May 2016, ORIC MR1516-20: Registrar lays charges against former Kimberley CEO and 4 August 2016, MR1617-03: Former Kimberley CEO appears in court available.
Media contact
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
ORIC MR1617-20
1 May 2017