Former New South Wales Labor ministers Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly have been hit with criminal charges after an investigation by the state's corruption watchdog that ended five years ago.
The men have been charged with "misconduct in public office, arising from Operation Credo", the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed.
Tony Kelly's former chief of staff, Laurie Brown, has also been charged with the same offence.
The ICAC probe, known as Operation Credo, found Mr Kelly and Mr Tripodi used their ministerial positions to push for infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings to be awarded a lucrative government contract.
At the time, the watchdog said the contract could have financially benefited the Obeid family.
It's the first time that Mr Tripodi and Mr Kelly have faced criminal charges after the corruption findings made against them by the ICAC.
The men are due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney in August, according to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Obeid is currently serving a jail sentence after being found guilty of a mine licence conspiracy involving the Obeid family farm in the Bylong Valley between 2007 and 2009.
The licence gave the Obeid family a $30 million windfall, which has never been repaid.
His family stood to make another $30 million from the deal, but the licence was cancelled by the New South Wales government.
He has also served a jail sentence for misconduct involving cafe leases at Circular Quay.
Obeid has previously strenuously denied the allegations contained within the Operation Credo report.
