On 30 September 2020, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal allowed Mr Peter Gregg’s appeal against his conviction of two counts of falsifying the books of Leighton Holdings Limited (LHL).
On 29 August 2019, Mr Gregg was convicted in the NSW District Court of two offences contrary to s 1307(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). It was alleged that, as an officer of LHL, he engaged in conduct that resulted in the falsification of the books of the company ().
Mr Gregg was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months on count one and two years on count two, to be served concurrently by way of an Intensive Correction Order. He appealed against both his conviction and sentence.
In allowing the appeal on a number of grounds, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the verdicts of guilty and entered a verdict of acquittal on each count.
The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Background
Mr Gregg first appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on 31 January 2017 (). He was found guilty on 11 December 2018 (). On 30 July 2019, the New South Wales District Court indicated that Mr Gregg would receive a total effective sentence of two years imprisonment, to be served by way of Intensive Correction Order. Mr Gregg was sentenced on 29 August 2019 and subsequently lodged an appeal ().
