Carol Norma Hardie and Dean George Scook have pleaded not guilty at committal proceedings in the Perth Magistrates Courtover the alleged theft of more than $1 million from Southern Wine Corporation, according to a statement released by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Ms Hardie, a former director of SWC, is charged with three counts of stealing following an investigation by ASIC. Mr Scook is charged with three counts of aiding Ms Hardie in the theft.
ASIC alleges Ms Hardie stole the sum of $1,013,500 when she signed three cheques drawn on SWC's bank account in the period January to March 2000. It is alleged this money was then used to pay amounts due by Ms Hardie and Mr Scook under a settlement agreement with a third party arising from a partnership dispute.
Ms Hardie and Mr Scook were committed to appear at the District Court of Western Australia for arraignment on 7 November 2006. They remain on bail.
The matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Background
ASIC's charges against Ms Hardie and Ms Scook arise from an investigation into SWC which collapsed in July 2003.
SWC was the Responsible Entity for two viticulture schemes - the SWC Managed Investment Scheme and the Fernvale Unit Trust Managed Investment Scheme. In December 1998 the Preston Vale Vineyard prospectus was registered to develop the Preston Vale Vineyard collectively through the two managed investment schemes.
The Preston Vale vineyard is located 24 kilometres east of Donnybrook in Western Australia and consists of over 200 hectares of vines. Approximately $28 million was raised.
SWC is now in liquidation.
As a result of a separate ASIC investigation, Mr Scook is also facing 259 charges of creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading during January and February 1998 in Intrepid Mining Corporation (later known as Cobra Resources NL and now called Resource Mining Corporation Ltd).
