TonyK
CibbuanoPratt stands down
June 20th 2008 02:36
CARLTON chief executive Greg Swann has announced that president Richard Pratt has stood down to fight criminal charges laid by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Swann said on Friday morning that Pratt's decision was effective immediately, with vice-president and former premiership captain Stephen Kernahan taking over as interim president.
"Richard's decision to stand aside from his position is obviously a disappointing development for Carlton, which acknowledges the outstanding contribution he has made in returning to the club he so genuinely loves to prominence in the AFL competition both on and off the field," Swann said.
The ACCC began proceedings against Pratt by lodging a summons in the Federal Court on Thursday. The summons accuses Pratt of four counts of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence.
It alleges he said he could not recall a conversation he had on May 21, 2001 about a price-fixing arrangement between Visy and rival cardboard manufacturer Amcor's corrugated box businesses.
In a statement, the ACCC said Pratt was one of several Visy executives investigated in 2005 under section 155 of the 1974 Trade Practices Act as part of its investigation into alleged cartel conduct in the corrugated fibreboard packaging industry.
That inquiry resulted in civil proceedings being launched against Visy, which culminated in the company being fined $36 million for colluding with Amcor.
In the criminal proceedings launched on Thursday, Pratt is alleged to have knowingly given false or misleading evidence at the 2005 inquiry.
Pratt has not yet entered a plea in the matter and will be required to appear before the court on July 7.
Swann said on Friday morning that Pratt's decision was effective immediately, with vice-president and former premiership captain Stephen Kernahan taking over as interim president.
"Richard's decision to stand aside from his position is obviously a disappointing development for Carlton, which acknowledges the outstanding contribution he has made in returning to the club he so genuinely loves to prominence in the AFL competition both on and off the field," Swann said.
The ACCC began proceedings against Pratt by lodging a summons in the Federal Court on Thursday. The summons accuses Pratt of four counts of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence.
It alleges he said he could not recall a conversation he had on May 21, 2001 about a price-fixing arrangement between Visy and rival cardboard manufacturer Amcor's corrugated box businesses.
In a statement, the ACCC said Pratt was one of several Visy executives investigated in 2005 under section 155 of the 1974 Trade Practices Act as part of its investigation into alleged cartel conduct in the corrugated fibreboard packaging industry.
That inquiry resulted in civil proceedings being launched against Visy, which culminated in the company being fined $36 million for colluding with Amcor.
In the criminal proceedings launched on Thursday, Pratt is alleged to have knowingly given false or misleading evidence at the 2005 inquiry.
Pratt has not yet entered a plea in the matter and will be required to appear before the court on July 7.
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