Former National Gallery of Victoria Executive Charged in Alleged AUD 8 Million Theft

In Melbourne, Australia, a former high-ranking official at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) faces allegations of embezzling around AUD 8 million (USD 5.6 million) from the museum over six years. The purported scheme involved using a business account to acquire smartphones, which were subsequently sold for profit. Authorities assert that the executive took advantage of his position to hide the scheme. The theft reportedly commenced in September 2019 and persisted until its revelation in September 2025. Following the museum's report to Victoria Police, the employee was dismissed. After a year-long inquiry by Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission, he has been charged with eight offenses, including seven theft counts and one for misconduct in public office. He is set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 20. Established in 1861, the NGV is Australia’s oldest public art museum, housing over 80,000 artworks valued at AUD 4.8 billion (USD 3.3 billion). ArtAsiaPacific noted that the collection remained unaffected by the alleged theft, underscoring serious internal security lapses at a leading cultural institution.