CEO guilty of corruption

Peter John Scutts (59) was found guilty in the Auckland High Court today following a prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). He has been found guilty of 17 fraud charges.

Mr Scutts was CEO of the New Zealand Wine Company Limited (NZWC) between July 2011 and September 2012.

An eight-week investigation by the SFO in 2013, led to the laying of 16 Crimes Act charges of dishonestly using a document and one Secret Commissions Act charge of corruptly accepting reward for advising NZWC to enter into a contract.

On advice from Mr Scutts, NZWC had entered into a contract to supply wine to an Australian based wine wholesaler. Mr Scutts agreed to receive a commission from the Australian wholesaler for advising NZWC to enter into the supply contract. The NZWC Board had no knowledge of this commission arrangement. Mr Scutts received commissions totalling approximately NZ$64,000, the majority of which was received while he was CEO of NZWC.

SFO Director, Julie Read said, “Corruption and bribery are a priority for the SFO. Even at modest levels, addressing corruption is an important aspect of protecting New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business. It is also critical to preventing the escalation of this sort of conduct in New Zealand’s economy.”

Mr Scutts has been remanded for sentencing on 10 July.

ENDS

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