Two Gippsland Waste Services directors have each been sentenced to 18-month community corrections orders after being convicted of falsifying records.
Joseph Agostino of Maribyrnong and Rodney Alan Young of Hazelwood North were sentenced yesterday in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court to 250 hours of community service each.
They each faced more than 130 charges including falsifying records in 2012 and 2013, which resulted in the underpayment of Wellington Shire Council by thousands of dollars.
The court heard Agostino and Young were directors in the company.
A man employed in administration, Gregory John Petrie of Forest Hill was acquitted of all charges against him, which included falsifying records.
Magistrate Clive Alsop said Mr Petrie’s role was less than that of Agostino and Young.
“Each of the accused acted dishonestly,” Mr Alsop said.
Mr Alsop acknowledged that in Mr Petrie’s evidence previously given to the court he was genuinely angered by directions given by Agostino and Young to shred documents.
Mr Alsop said he rejected evidence previously provided by Agostino and Young in court that there was no direction for shredding.
“I’m satisfied Mr Agostino and Mr Young were involved,” Mr Alsop said.
All three men had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
