Former CFO in court over $3m Brisbane surgeon kickback scheme

A former chief financial officer of a travel agency is accused of fraudulently taking more than $2 million in an alleged kickback scheme involving Brisbane surgeons.

Alana Jane Clayton, 39, who was a former chief financial officer for Corporate Travel Management before she resigned at the end of last year, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say she gave secret payments to two Brisbane surgeons – Dr Richard William Laherty and Dr Dihan Taranga Aponso – who performed operations at Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Clayton did not respond to questions from journalists outside court.

She stands accused of two counts of fraud and official corruption of a public service employee between 2016 and 2019.

The court is yet to hear how Clayton came to be linked to the alleged scheme.

Earlier this month, Brisbane neurosurgeon Laherty and spinal surgeon Aponso appeared in court following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into how medical devices were used at the major hospitals.

The devices were supplied by company MediVance.

A third man, Elliott Charles Lacaze – the director of MediVance – also appeared in court last month accused of dishonestly gaining business for himself and two other people to the value of more than $2.7 million.

While working at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Laherty allegedly received money from MediVance in return for using its surgical devices in his operations. The neurosurgeon was also a part owner of MediVance.

When the Office of the Health Ombudsman became involved, Laherty was also accused of providing false statements to an investigator between 2021 and 2022.

He allegedly told the investigator the payments were for camera equipment worn by him while performing surgeries in public and private hospitals.

The neurosurgeon has also worked across Queensland Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery (QNS), Greenslopes Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Northside.

Aponso, who has also worked at Brisbane Private Hospital, allegedly received money from MediVance in return for using the devices while performing operations between 2017 and 2022.

Clayton was most recently employed by global business travel firm Corporate Travel Management as its Australia and New Zealand chief financial officer.

A company spokesperson, who said the firm was unaware of the corruption allegations, said Clayton resigned on December 16.

The corruption watchdog revealed two days later, on December 18, it had charged the then-unnamed accused offenders.

Clayton’s company bio had described her as a “highly skilled accounting professional” with a business degree and two decades of experience who joined the travel firm in 2023.

“Before venturing into the travel sector, Alana dedicated four years to specialised research and development tax advisory, showcasing her versatility in navigating complex financial landscapes,” the website said.

According to court documents, Clayton’s fraud charges relate to allegations she dishonestly gained money for herself, Lacaze, and another person, to the value of $1,674,971 between 2017 and 2019.

In a separate allegation, she also dishonestly gained money for herself, Lacaze, and the other person, totalling $661,081 between 2016 and 2019.

Her case was adjourned to February 16 to align with a hearing for surgeons Laherty and Aponso, and MediVance director Lacaze.

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