By CASEY NEILL
A SPRINGVALE businessman is threatening legal action over misconduct allegations levelled at a Greater Dandenong Councillor.
The Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate confirmed it was investigating claims from Cr Peter Brown made at the 26 October council meeting that Cr Youhorn Chea had failed to declare cash gifts from Springvale Asian Business Association (SABA) committee members.
Cr Brown said he had “incontrovertible evidence” the gifts constituted a conflict of interest and that he uncovered them after Cr Chea supported the group’s campaign against parking meters in Springvale.
SABA spokesman Stan Chang said the allegation Cr Chea had received money from SABA “that is considered by him as a conflict of interest” was totally baseless.
“SABA sees the allegation as unscrupulous with a sole aim to create a sense of suspicion and uncertainty in the mind of other councillors to set the scene for the coming council election to become the new mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong,” Mr Chang said.
“SABA can categorically state that it has never given Cr Youhorn Chea or any other councillors any money in the past or in recent times that may constitute a conflict of interest.”
Mr Chang said SABA was “disappointed with such an unfounded attack” and that Cr Brown had no evidence.
“SABA would also reserve the right to take up the legal option to pursue Cr Brown for defamation based on totally baseless allegations directed towards the ethics and reputation of SABA,” he said.
The Greater Dandenong mayoral election will take place at 6pm on Thursday 5 November.
Check www.facebook.com/DandenongJournal to find out the result moments after the vote.
