A senior former National Gallery of Victoria employee charged over an alleged $8m fraud has been unmasked.
Former IT boss James Michael Hosking made his first appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused by the state’s corruption watchdog of a protracted criminal operation involving the sale of mobile phones bought by deception.
Mr Hosking was charged last month by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission with eight offences as part of an operation dubbed Sonder.
Sonder, established a year ago, examined allegations of corrupt conduct and misuse of position by a former senior employee at NGV between September 2019 and September 2025.
IBAC alleged Mr Hosking bought phones using an NGV account, onsold them and kept the profits over six years.
“It will be further alleged the former senior employee misused their position to conceal the alleged conduct,” read an IBAC statement.
Wearing a suit, blue tie and black-rimmed glasses, Mr Hosking did not speak as his case was heard before Deputy Chief Magistrate Tim Bourke.
He avoided media outside court, refusing to answer questions about his alleged criminal operation or how he intends to plead to the charges.
He will return to court in January.
The alleged corruption case sent shockwaves throughout the industry.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said revelations of alleged corruption within NGV ranks was “distressing”.
“The actions were those of one individual, and not a reflection of our values as an organisation or the diligence and professionalism of other NGV staff members,” Mr Ellwood said in an email to staff.
During his employment at the NGV, Mr Hosking oversaw an overhaul of the gallery’s digital assets.
Mr Ellwood said internal systems were strengthened in the wake of the corruption probe.
“The NGV has implemented a series of new measures and controls to further strengthen our systems and processes.”
Victoria’s Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward labelled Mr Hosking’s alleged actions as “disgraceful”.