Mr Molan told the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission inquiry on Thursday in Melbourne he would have “never” falsified the accreditation of a trainer but under questioning said, “I accept that I must have done it”.

The inquiry had been told Mr Molan managed a contract which training company Taytell received $1.8 million in government subsidies to provide 172,000 student contact hours. But minimal hours were provided and TAFE received about $500,000.

“I was not a rogue,” he said. “I was a well-respected, long-serving committed employee of South West TAFE, who had a passion for the place. I would not put the reputation of the institution in jeopardy.”

Former chief Peter Heilbuth told the inquiry he trusted Mr Molan.

He said Mr Molan had accessed the student management system to record Taytell company director Rebecca Taylor as being qualified for a Certificate IV in engineering despite her being deemed not competent by former TAFE trainer Jason Sealey.

Mr Molan said he issued her certificate because he'd been provided evidence about her competence, but he couldn't remember who provided it and the "box of documents was lost".

“I will concede that my username was used to put the results onto the system for Rebecca Taylor, and given that it was my username, I accept that I must have done it,” he said. 

Mr Heilbuth said he asked Mr Molan to respond to an independent audit of the Taytell agreement.

"He said words to the effect of, 'I know this looks really bad. I’ll come back to you. There’s an explanation for all of this’.” Mr Heilbuth said he did not receive a response.