Bribe case dropped

By Tania Martin
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges councillor Tim Heenan has been cleared of election tampering and claims of bribery.
The former mayor last week told the Mail he was glad to finally clear his name.
Cr Heenan received the news last Thursday 4 June that charges had been dropped.
In a letter to Cr Heenan, the Department of Planning and Community Development said the case had been dismissed.
A spokesman said the investigation had found there was insufficient evidence to establish a breech of the Local Government Act.
The bribery allegation arose last December following council elections, when unsuccessful Billanook ward candidate Ian Harris claimed that Cr Heenan had tried to bribe him.
Mr Harris said Cr Heenan had tried to lure him out of the race with an all-expenses-paid holiday to Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Harris said he met with Cr Heenan at the Morrison Café in Mt Evelyn on 25 October.
“I can tell you he was nervous about me running,” Mr Harris told the Mail.
Mr Harris claimed he couldn’t believe what the incumbent Billanook Ward councillor was offering.
Mr Harris also called for Cr Heenan to be removed from his seat and claimed the State Government needed to take immediate action.
Cr Heenan said despite knowing he was innocent, the allegations had weighed heavily on his second term on council.
“I have always tried to do my best by Billanook,” he said.
“But I have never had my credibility or integrity brought into question … I am happy to be pulled into line if I do the wrong thing.
“I probably have made mistakes and will make mistakes but I will try to fix them … I am only human and will continue working for the community,” Cr Heenan said.
The decision to drop the case comes just months after other allegations were thrown out of court.
In April, the Mail reported that the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court had dismissed election tampering claims levelled at Cr Heenan.
Mr Harris had filed a complaint against the Victorian Electoral Commission following last year’s elections.
He claimed the VEC made mistakes when counting votes and also made several allegations against Cr Heenan.
Mr Harris believed he should have received a larger portion of the first preference votes and that Cr Heenan had tried to sabotage his campaign.
But the case was dismissed on Monday 6 April after Mr Harris failed to appear.
Cr Heenan said it had been a nightmare waiting to clear his name but he was glad it was all over.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed and happy it’s over and I can put it behind me,” Cr Heenan said.
The Mail was unable to contact Mr Harris for comment.