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Teacher used TAFE funds to build $30,000 kennel

A CORRUPTION inquiry has heard a TAFE teacher who administered a state government public housing project allegedly used college funds to build a greyhound kennel worth more than $30,000.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations Head Carpentry teacher Garrie Cooper, from Miller TAFE, west of Sydney, asked sub-contractors to submit invoices to TAFE for work done on a private project.

The inquiry in Sydney heard today that Mr Cooper oversaw a TAFE program in which students undertook construction and renovation for Housing NSW and also employed sub-contractors to work on the projects.

In 2006 Mr Cooper allegedly struck a deal with greyhound trainer Hassib "Harry" Sarkis to build a greyhound kennel on his property in return for Sarkis caring for and training his 21 dogs.

Mr Cooper then hired sub-contractors, previously employed by TAFE, to carry out much of the building work and allegedy told them to inflate their invoices to the college to cover their payments.

Source: The Australian