Powerful official abused power for personal favor.

Home Affairs Official Found to Abuse Public Office for Brother-in-Law's Job

A senior home affairs department official has been found to have misused her position for personal gain, securing a job for her future brother-in-law.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) report revealed that the woman, known as Joanne Simeson, forged a signature, coached her sister, and shared confidential interview questions to ensure her sister's partner received a job in the department.

Simeson, who was acting assistant secretary at the time, resigned before she could be terminated. The report highlights concerns about nepotism, cronyism, and undisclosed conflicts of interest in public sector recruitment.

The official's sister was employed overseas, while her husband studied abroad. Simeson obtained her brother-in-law's resume in late 2022 and instructed her sister to tell the potential employer a fabricated story about their relationship.

Despite suspicions from colleagues, Simeson successfully secured the job for her brother-in-law.

The Nacc investigation is the first publicly completed probe by the commission, which was established in June 2023.