Tarneit resident Johannes (Joh) Bauch will appear at a hearing on 7 December 2020 on charges of making and using false documents during the 2016 Wyndham City Council elections.
The 4-day hearing was due to begin on Monday 11 May. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on court processes, a postponement was required and the matter has been rescheduled for December at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court.
The Inspectorate charged Mr Bauch with making and using false documents which he allegedly submitted during the 2016 election.
The Inspectorate will allege that, on 21 September 2016, Mr Bauch submitted a Candidate Statement Lodgement Form and Candidate Questionnaire Lodgement Form in the name of another candidate to the Victorian Electoral Commission, without that candidate’s knowledge or consent.
Mr Bauch faces two charges of making a false document and two charges of using a false document contrary to sections 83A(1) and 83A(2) of the Crimes Act 1958.
Charges for the falsification of documents, with the intention of inducing another person to accept the document as genuine, each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Reviewed 23 June 2021