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An overseas staff member of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) has been sacked for alleged serious fraudulent activity.
- The alleged fraud took place in Trade and Investment Queensland's office in South Korea
- TIQ is lodging a criminal complaint with South Korean authorities, with a similar complaint made to Queensland police
- The Queensland Government says it cannot comment while the matter is under investigation
In a statement, TIQ chair Steve Bredhauer said he made the State Government aware of a serious fraud alleged to have occurred in the trade investment body's office in South Korea.
The details of the alleged fraud are not yet known, but it relates to Queensland Government funds used to support international operations.
A staff member in Seoul has been sacked, while TIQ is lodging a criminal complaint with South Korean authorities.
A similar complaint has been made to Queensland police.
Mr Bredhauer said a review of all overseas offices was underway while the matter was being investigated.
Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has been notified and will advise TIQ on procedural matters where appropriate.
The State Government said it could not comment while the matter is under investigation.
Acting TIQ chief executive officer Paul Martyn said he was deeply disappointed about the alleged behaviour.
"The offence that has been committed is serious and monies have been taken," Mr Martyn said.
"This was a sophisticated fraud by a person in a position of trust — any employer would be deeply disappointed, as we are.
"What I am confident though is that the overwhelming majority of employees at TIQ are dedicated and passionate public servants who want to seek to grow exports and investment from Queensland."
Mr Martyn said he was confident this was "an isolated incident".
"Korea is our 12th largest merchandise trading partner — we value strongly the trade relationship with Korea and we don't believe that this isolated incident will in any way affect that relationship," he said.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, fraud-and-corporate-crime, trade, business-economics-and-finance, public-sector, government-and-politics, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, korea-republic-of
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