Overview

• Justice Peter Bawden found Vas Georgiou and John Aquino guilty on two counts of fraud over $5,000 each after a 24-day trial.
• He said he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that their dishonest conduct compromised the procurement, describing the evidence as overwhelming.
• Prosecutors cited secret communications over a bondfield.com email and a BlackBerry given to Georgiou, including a May 18, 2014 message advising costs be kept out of Bondfield’s bid to “fight later when we are No. 1.”
• Defense lawyers argued that rule-breaking did not prove fraud or financial loss; Aquino’s counsel called aspects of the reasons legally problematic while Georgiou’s lawyer declined comment before sentencing.
• The $300-million expansion remains years behind schedule, with Unity Health planning completion in 2026 following Bondfield’s 2019 insolvency and ongoing insurer and subcontractor claims.