The New Zealand-born businessman Sir Ron Brierley has pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in connection with images and vidoes found on his computers.Brierley, 83, gained a reputation as
Sir Ron Brierley, once a lauded corporate raider, now viewed with contempt. (file photo)
Brierley Investments was once the country’s biggest listed company, its eponymous founder famous for hunting down undervalued companies and selling off their assets for a profit. It’s estimated one in every 20 New Zealanders owned shares in the corporate raider, and it made Sir Ron Brierley very rich, with a wealth consistently estimated well over $100 million, elevating him to the top of the corporate world. Now his reputation is in ruins, after the 83-year-old, who lives in Australia, pleaded guilty on Friday to possessing child sexual abuse material, having been detained attempting to board a flight from Sydney to Fiji in December 2019.
Instead, according to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), the Secretary and Registrar of the Order needs to give the holder of the honour 30 days to respond to the proposed forfeiture with any comments they believe should be taken into account.
If the Prime Minister decides to go ahead, they then write to the Queen with the advice. Once The Queen has approved the proposal, the holder of the honour is notified and asked to return their insignia and warrant of appointment, DPMC says. They may no longer use the post-nominal letters associated with the honour after their name. If the honour has a title associated with it, the person is no longer entitled to use the title (e.g. Dame or Sir ).
Report from RNZ
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has started moves to strip disgraced Wellington businessman Sir Ron Brierley of his knighthood.
In the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney today, Brierley pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing child sex abuse material, with 14 charges withdrawn.
Brierley’s barrister admitted he possessed “some images” but the exact figure is “in dispute”.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said she had asked for the forfeiture process to be initiated.
Brierley will have 30 days to respond, but after that the prime minister can write to the Queen asking her to cancel his appointment and he will be asked to return his insignia. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in New Zealand’s 1988 New Year Honours, for services to business management and the community.
Brierley s barrister admitted he possessed some images but the exact figure is in dispute .
The New Zealand businessman was arrested in December 2019 on six counts of possession of child abuse material.
Border officials had found child sexual abuse material on his laptop and electronic storage devices.
Brierley will be sentenced on 30 April.
This evening Cricket Wellington, where Brierley was a former Patron and current life member, said it was shocked to learn of his guilty plea. Following this morning s guilty plea this status will now be reviewed, it said in a statement to 1 NEWS.
Cricket Wellington has not received donations from Brierley since October 2017.