LOGAN mayor Luke Smith has been charged with perjury, official corruption and failing to correct his register of interests.
Cr Smith was called from a council meeting on Monday morning after CCC officers visited the administration building.
He was taken to the Beenleigh watch-house where he was charged with two counts of perjury and one each of official corruption and failing to correct his register of interests.
A Crime and Corruption Commission spokesperson said a 48-year-old Windaroo man was charged at Beenleigh.
“The CCC will allege the man knowingly gave false testimony at a public hearing related to Operation Belcarra,” the spokesperson said.
“The CCC will also allege that its investigation uncovered evidence with respect to the other charges laid against the man.”
The spokesperson said he was bailed to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 17.
The mayor was due to appear at a media conference at the Logan River Tree Farm to mark the one-year anniversary since the floods that followed ex-Cyclone Debbie.
A council media release cancelling the event said the mayor had been called away on urgent business.
The CCC’s Operation Belcarra was held in response to complaints about the conduct of candidates contesting the 2016 local government elections.
The CCC tabled its report on the investigation in October.
With regard to Logan, the report said the CCC focused on five allegations involving perceptions that Cr Smith failed to give a disclosure return within the required time or provided a disclosure return containing information he knew was false or misleading and had attempted to unlawfully influence council decisions relating to his donors.
A Logan City Council spokesperson said their duty of care remained with the community and council staff.
”Council respects the ongoing legal process and will continue to co-operate with all CCC-related matters,” the spokesperson said.
