A former council official facing serious fraud charges made a false entry in council minutes the day before he benefited from a $500,000 severance, Queensland's corruption watchdog says.
Former Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council chief executive Lee Robertson briefly appeared in Cairns Magistrate Court on Friday.
He is facing five counts each of fraud and fraudulent falsification of records.
The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) alleges he organised the half-a-million-dollar severance package before resigning from his position with the council and paid mayor Greg McLean $58,400 from the council's Hope Vale Foundation.
Court documents allege the 52-year-old misrepresented a resolution passed by council in meeting minutes, the day before he benefited from the massive severance in September 2012.
They also contend he created fake tax invoices over a two-month period in early 2013 to justify the payments to McLean.
Three of these were allegedly obtained by Robertson in the days leading up to Christmas 2012.
McLean, 48, is facing four fraud charges, which are listed in Cooktown Magistrates Court on December 1.
Mr Robertson's matter is listed for a committal hearing at Cairns Magistrate Court on October 28.
Both men are on bail.
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