THE corporate watchdog has bitten back, saying it intends to appeal against two recent legal rulings that have seen its ability to run key investigations called into question.
In Victoria, Australian Securities and Investments Commission lawyers have lodged an appeal against a Supreme Court order quashing its bid to bring a second case against former AWB chief executive Andrew Lindberg over the oil-for-food scandal, the Herald Sun reports.
In NSW ASIC lodged a notice of intention to appeal a NSW Supreme Court judgment dismissing its claim against One.Tel founder Jodee Rich for allegedly misleading the telco's board and investors.
Earlier this month, Victorian Supreme Court judge Ross Robson found that ASIC's attempt to open a second front in proceedings against Mr Lindberg brought the administration of justice into disrepute.
"I find that Mr Lindberg will be unjustifiably vexed and oppressed and manifestly denied a fair trial by the existence of the pending second proceeding," Justice Robson said.
An existing civil penalty case against Mr Lindberg over his alleged knowledge of bribes paid by AWB to the now-deposed Iraqi regime headed by dictator Saddam Hussein remains on foot and continues today.
ASIC applied to appeal Justice Robson's decision yesterday and has until February 27 to appeal the One.Tel decision, the regulator said in a statement.
An ASIC spokeswoman declined to comment.
Read more at the Herald Sun
