ARITA notes criminal charges against former member Peter Amos

20/12/2023

ARITA notes the laying of six charges of dishonestly using his position as an officer of a company to gain an advantage for his business and himself contrary to s 184(2)(a) of the Corporations Act against former member Peter Amos in the NSW Local Court on 19 December 2023. Relevantly, we note that Mr Amos has pleaded guilty to all charges.

ARITA terminated Mr Amos as a Professional Member on 22 August 2022 when Mr Amos was found to have failed to properly respond to ARITA’s conduct inquiries.

Following concerns raised with ARITA by an ARITA Professional Member about Mr Amos, ARITA lodged formal complaints with ASIC in October 2021 about Mr Amos’ conduct pursuant to provisions in the Corporations Act that allow professional bodies to raise conduct concerns about registered liquidators. Initially, ARITA chose not to pursue Mr Amos directly so as not to prejudice action that was the proper jurisdiction of enforcement agencies.

Given the significant need for trust in insolvency practitioners and in the insolvency system, ARITA is committed to ensuring the highest level of professional conduct amongst our members. That includes taking firm action against members’ egregious behaviour and referring such conduct to the relevant authorities, where appropriate.