Federal police have laid fresh charges against former Reserve Bank currency executives involving the biggest alleged bribe yet in Australia’s worst corporate corruption scandal - up to $17 million.

Former Securency sales boss Cliff Gerathy this morning became the eighth former executive from Securency and Note Printing Australia to be charged with allegedly bribing officials in Asia in order to win central bank currency contracts.

Gerathy, 60, of New South Wales, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court this afternoon, where he was ordered to surrender his passport before being granted bail.

‘‘It will be alleged in court that the man facilitated payments of $17.2 million in commissions to an agent in Vietnam and falsified accounts in relation to a contract in Malaysia. Both alleged incidents relate to efforts to secure banknote contracts on behalf of Securency,’’ the Australian Federal Police said in a statement before his appearance.

‘‘The man has been charged with conspiracy to bribe a foreign public official, contrary to Sections 11.5(1) and 70.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $1.1 million fine. He has also been charged with false accounting under Section 83(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.’’