The former IT head at Australia’s oldest art gallery has faced court after an anti-corruption watchdog alleged the gallery was defrauded of about $8m over a six-year period.
James Michael Hosking did not respond to questions as he appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning for a brief administrative hearing.
Last month, Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) revealed Mr Hosking had been charged with seven counts of theft and one count of misconduct in public office following a year-long probe codenamed Operation Sonder.
IBAC alleged that about $8m worth of mobile phones were purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria between 2019 and 2025 and then sold for personal benefit.
Mr Hosking is also accused of misusing his position at the gallery to conceal the alleged conduct.
Mr Hosking was placed on bail by deputy chief magistrate Tim Bourke under conditions including surrendering his passport and not leaving the country.
He will return to court on January 22.