Supreme Court drops charges against Sayers

Ausdrill announced today that the proceedings in the Supreme Court against its chief executive officer Ron Sayers have been discontinued.

“The matter was mentioned in the Supreme Court today and the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions formally discontinued the charge,” the company said in a statement.

“The proceedings are now at an end.”

Mr Sayers was discharged from the Supreme Court earlier in the month after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on tax evasion charges against him and former Barminco boss Peter Bartlett.

It was the second time they had appeared before the Supreme Court on the allegations, and the second time they had been discharged.

The pair had been accused of knowingly helping to set up a false interest scheme to defraud the Commonwealth out of $3.3 million.

“The Ausdrill board and management have remained fully supportive of Mr Sayers throughout the process and are delighted that the charge has been discontinued,” Ausdrill said.

Ausdrill in August announced the re-appointment of Mr Sayers, with no change made to his $1.9 million remuneration package, which includes a $817,025 base salary.