Fed: Firepower boss complains of harassment

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2009
Fed: Firepower boss complains of harassment

By Warwick Stanley

PERTH, Dec 11 AAP - Firepower boss Tim Johnston says he has been assaulted and his
daughter has been intimidated since he began giving evidence to a Perth court hearing
into the collapse of his fuel pill company.

Mr Johnston told a liquidator's examination of Firepower that he had been "hit over
the back of the head" on the first day he gave evidence, while "cars have been driving
around my daughter's house".

He named his attacker as Shane Drew and said he wanted the name added to those of two
other men who had threatened him whose identities have so far been suppressed by the court.

Mr Johnston said Mr Drew was known to "associate" with the two other men, who had allegedly
been with Warren Anderson when the Perth-based property developer made implied threats
against him in 2006 and 2007.

The man behind Firepower, whose collapse in 2008 cost investors an estimated $100 million,
was giving evidence on the fourth day of the Federal Court hearing.

Mr Johnston has claimed that he gave $11 million to Mr Anderson's company Owston Nominees
during the time he was under threat.

Mr Anderson has said the money given to Owston Nominees was for share transactions
and the claims of threats were "ridiculous".

Mr Johnston has told the court he received a series of threats from Mr Anderson since
April 2006 "until recently".

He said that following the initial threats, he had ordered $4 million be paid into
Owston Nominees' account after phone calls between him and Mr Anderson.

He has claimed in the hearing that Mr Anderson used two different men to intimidate
him, saying the developer referred to one of the men during a phone conversation on the
first occasion and had another accompany him to a lunch between Mr Anderson and Mr Johnston
in Perth in 2007.

Lawyers for the liquidator agreed to Mr Johnston writing the names down to avoid them
becoming public.

Mr Johnston said on Friday he would not object to the names being made public.

His barrister Ken Carmody said he would make no submissions on the matter, while Richard
Douglas, for the liquidator, said he would take instructions.

The hearing continues.

AAP was/jl/mn

KEYWORD: FIREPOWER

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