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2026-09-28 02:21 UTC → 2026-10-20 07:12 UTC ·
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A James Hosking, the former senior employee head of IT at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has been charged (NGV), appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 20 following an investigation known as charges related to the alleged theft of approximately $8 million from the institution. Through ‘Operation Sonder’. The Sonder’, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) alleges the individual siphoned approximately $8 million from the institution that between September 2019 and September 2025. Later reports identify the accused as James Hosking, the former head of IT at the NGV. The alleged scheme involved issuing 2025, Hosking used an NGV account to purchase mobile phones via hundreds of fraudulent invoices for mobile phones, invoices, which were then sold for personal gain. The matter was reportedly brought to the NGV’s attention by Telstra’s fraud squad in September 2025. While the NGV holds an art collection valued at $4.8 billion, officials stated confirmed the collection was not affected by the fraud. The employee was terminated in September 2025, and the gallery has since implemented new internal controls. affected. Hosking faces seven counts of theft and one count of misconduct in public office, office. During the court proceedings, his lawyer, Josh Smith, stated that his client has been ‘incredibly co-operative’ with the IBAC investigation and has been ‘very forthcoming’ during interviews. As a court appearance scheduled for October 20. result of the proceedings, Hosking has been ordered to surrender his passport and is currently banned from leaving the country.