No verdict again in Sayers, Bartlett trial

Ausdrill managing director Ron Sayers has been discharged from the Supreme Court today after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on tax evasion charges against him and former Barminco boss, Peter Bartlett, for the second time.

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

Ausdrill said in a statement today that the jury was unable to reach a verdict in relation to the charge brought against Mr Sayers and he has since been discharged.

The pair first stood trial in the Supreme Court late last year, however a jury could not decide on a unanimous verdict for either Mr Sayers or Mr Bartlett.

While Mr Sayers’ employment agreement had been due to expire at the end of last month, Ausdrill today said he would resume all duties as managing director of the company.

The mining services firm said last week that it had suffered a 148.5 per cent fall in full-year profit to make a loss of $43.9 million, on the back of $77.9 million in write-downs and impairment charges.

Ausdrill’s share price close 0.4 per cent lower at $1.22 per share.