Ian Macdonald found corrupt by ICAC again Linton Besser tells the story of the alleged conspiracy between former union boss John Maitland and disgraced resources minister Ian Macdonald involving a mining exploration licence at Doyles Creek. Ian Macdonald and his union boss mate, John Maitland, have been found corrupt by the Independent Commission Against Corruption over a lucrative Hunter Valley coal licence issued without a tender to Mr Maitland's company, Doyles Creek Mining. Both have been referred to the public prosecutor for potential criminal charges, along with Craig Ransley and Andrew Poole, two wealthy Newcastle businessmen who bankrolled the project. ICAC finding: Ian Macdonald acted corruptly over his role in awarding the Doyles Creek mine licence. Earlier this month, Mr Macdonald was found corrupt by the ICAC over a rigged tender that conferred a benefit worth up to $100 million on the family of ALP powerbroker Eddie Obeid. The ICAC also found he had engaged in corrupt conduct for arranging a high-level meeting for accused murderer Ron Medich, in exchange for a suite at the Four Seasons and a prostitute named Tiffanie. On Friday, the corruption watchdog tabled its report into the Doyles Creek Mining affair, finding that Mr Macdonald, Mr Maitland, Mr Ransley, Mr Poole and another Doyles Creek Mining associate, Mike Chester, all engaged in corrupt conduct. It has referred evidence to the Department of Public Prosecutions for it to consider laying criminal charges: Mr Macdonald for misconduct in public office and Mr Maitland for lying to the commission. After Mr Macdonald issued DCM with a licence - overruling his department and refusing to put the resource to a tender - the company sold into NuCoal and listed on the stock exchange. "Overall, the original shareholders in DCM, whose total initial investment was $1.53 million, have made or stand to make a total of $84.74 million from their shares," the ICAC said in a statement this morning. The commission finds that Mr Maitland and Mr Macdonald were 'mates' and enjoyed a close and friendly professional relationship. The commission's report ... finds that for the purpose of benefiting Mr Maitland, Mr Macdonald would not have made those grants.