Western Australia's trade commissioner to Japan dined with mates at the expense of taxpayers, organised a bathhouse trip for politicians, double dipped on his allowance and was imprisoned after a drunken crash in a work car.
A Corruption and Crime Commission report released on Tuesday found Craig Peacock engaged in serious misconduct for many years and "took advantage of his position to enrich himself".
He was WA's commissioner to Japan from 2002 until he was fired in February, and among his duties was arranging visits for politicians and seeking trade opportunities for the state.
From December 2008 to January 2018, Mr Peacock's cost of living allowance was paid from his employing departments into his bank account, but he also arranged payments through the Tokyo office totalling $500,000, which the CCC called double dipping.
Further, his rent equalled his allowance for accommodation and utilities, but he still instructed the office manager to reimburse him more than $65,000 for utilities and storage fees.
The CCC said Mr Peacock never sought approval for the state to pay for his membership or dining expenses at the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club, and he misused his official passport to attend a club convention in Shanghai.
"He used his position to benefit friends in Japan by wining and dining them extensively, and to help one of them wash money through Mr Peacock's bank account," the CCC said.
Mr Peacock was fined and disqualified from driving for two years in 2011 after he drunkenly ploughed a state-leased car into the back of a truck and spent two days in prison, but did not report the incident or the $17,500 damage.
In June 2015, Mr Peacock organised for then-politicians Phil Edman and Brian Ellis to attend a Japanese bathhouse with the assistance of a Japanese staffer whose time and money was reimbursed, which the CCC described as an improper use of state funds.
In text messages, Mr Edman said he wanted to go to a geisha bar and had "never had a Japanese honey before".
Mr Edman told the CCC the texts were "just boys being boys", while Mr Ellis denied knowledge of the messages.
Both said they only wanted traditional Japanese massages and denied seeking sexual services.
The CCC did not suggest they engaged in illegal activity.
Mr Peacock was referred to the CCC following departmental restructuring, and Premier Mark McGowan said the state had begun recovery proceedings and frozen Mr Peacock's assets.
"I expect all legal options will be explored, including by WA police," Mr McGowan said.
