PERTH. — Sam Curulli, 27, the former chief executive of the Shire of Coorow, has been released on bail following the filing of new criminal charges. The accusations expand his existing legal troubles, which already include serious allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure in Western Australia’s local government sector.

Curulli was granted conditional bail by the Court of Petty Sessions after prosecutors laid additional counts against him. He faces a comprehensive list of offenses, including fraud, corruption, and theft, stemming from activities alleged to have occurred between May and December 2025. These new charges add depth to an investigation that has already scrutinized his decision-making processes and financial authorization practices while serving as the de facto head of the municipality.

The Shire of Coorow, located in the state’s wheatbelt region, employs a small administrative team where the CEO holds significant authority over procurement and budget allocation. Investigators allege that Curulli exploited this position to divert funds and approve unauthorized transactions. The specific monetary value of the alleged theft has not been publicly disclosed in the initial court filings, but sources indicate the figures are material enough to warrant multi-year fraud referrals.

Key Takeaways

• Sam Curulli was bailed on new charges of fraud and theft related to his role as Shire of Coorow CEO.
• The alleged misconduct spans a seven-month period from May to December 2025, involving multiple distinct transactions.
• The case highlights vulnerabilities in oversight mechanisms for small local government entities in remote Western Australian regions.

“The integrity of local public finance is non-negotiable,” said a spokesperson for the Western Australia Police Force Commercial Crime Squad. “We are committed to holding all officials accountable, regardless of their position or the size of the organization they represent. These new charges reflect the severity of the evidence gathered during our extensive inquiry.”

Legal defense for Curulli was not immediately available for comment. However, his legal team previously stated that the former executive believed he was acting within the scope of his delegated powers at the time. The Shire of Coorow council has operated without a permanent chief executive since Curulli’s suspension in late 2025, relying on interim administrative staff to manage daily operations and ongoing project contracts.

Legal experts note that cases involving local government executive officers often face prolonged litigation due to the complex nature of statutory duties. The bail conditions placed on Curulli include strict non-contact orders with witnesses and a requirement to surrender his passport. Prosecutors are expected to file a full brief of evidence within the next 90 days, which will determine the final list of charges and the likely timeline for trial proceedings.