Former Casey mayor Sameh Aziz and developer John Woodman face corruption charges over $1.2M in secret payments, linked to planning favors.

Former Casey mayor Sameh Aziz and property developer John Charles Woodman appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 25, 2025, facing corruption charges linked to alleged secret payments totaling nearly $1.2 million. Aziz, charged with five counts including receiving commissions and misconduct in public office, is accused of using his position to benefit Woodman’s development interests, while Woodman faces charges for providing the payments. The case stems from IBAC’s Operation Sandon, a five-year investigation into planning decisions in Casey that led to the council’s dissolution in 2020. Both men denied the allegations in a prior press conference, and the matter is set for a committal mention on February 2, 2026.