Disgraced WA bureaucrat Paul Whyte has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for stealing $27 million dollars of taxpayer money.

Whyte used his senior positions at the Department of Housing and the Department of Communities to give government contracts to shelf companies owned by his friends – with the money funneled back to him.

The 58 year old pleaded guilty to 564 charges including corruption and property laundering.

6PR and Nine News reporter Mitch Turner was in court for today’s sentencing, and told Oliver Peterson that Whyte could be released as early as 2029.

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