The Australian Securities & Investments Commission published an update noting that Geoffrey Thomas Parker, former CEO of Bruck Textile Technologies Pty Ltd, has had his criminal conviction for preventing the recovery of employee entitlements overturned on appeal, with the Victorian Court of Appeal entering a judgment of acquittal. The Court granted an extension of time and leave to appeal, allowed the appeal, and set aside the conviction following a case stated judgment on questions of law on the interpretation of the offence provisions in DPP (Cth) v Bart [2025] VSCA 161. Parker had been charged with one count of preventing the recovery of employee entitlements under sections 596AB(1) and 1311(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and had previously pleaded guilty on 3 April 2024. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted the matter, and proceedings against Parker’s co-accused were discontinued following the Court’s ruling in DPP (Cth) v Bart.
Australian Securities & Investments Commission 2025-12-12
Australian Securities & Investments Commission reports Victorian Court of Appeal sets aside former Bruck Textile Technologies CEO conviction
The Victorian Court of Appeal overturned Geoffrey Thomas Parker's criminal conviction for preventing employee entitlements recovery. The Court granted an extension and leave to appeal, setting aside the conviction based on DPP (Cth) v Bart [2025] VSCA 161. Proceedings against Parker's co-accused were discontinued.