‘Get it over the line’: Western Sydney ex-manager sentenced over bride attempt for $5m parking contract

A former executive manager at Western Sydney Airport has avoided jail after attempting to solicit a bribe during bidding for a $5m parking system contract. Sajish Erasery was sentenced at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to soliciting a corrupt commission contrary to section 249B. The former executive procurement manager will serve a two-year prison sentence in the community as well as undertake 500 hours of community service. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said Erasery attempted to solicit the bribe from a company bidding to provide an automated parking system at the future airport. In a statement, the corruption watchdog said Erasery had initially suggested he could “get the deal over the line” if he received a payment of 5 per cent of the contract. Erasery later reduced the amount to $200,000 – of the $5m contract – and proposed a scheme to repay the company through inflated invoices, according to the NACC. The matter was referred to the NACC and the Australian Federal Police in March 2024 and within just 10 days they had enough evidence to lay charges against Erasery. It is the first case to result in sentencing from an investigation initiated by the corruption watchdog, which was established by the federal government in July 2023. In its statement, the NACC thanked the Western Sydney Airport for their co-operation and “proactive actions … in referring the matter”. Western Sydney Airport is scheduled to open in late-2026.