The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions will not start criminal cartel proceedings against BlueScope Steel Ltd. or its former general manager of sales and marketing, Jason Ellis.
However, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, or ACCC, said the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions brought criminal obstruction charges against Ellis.
"These obstruction allegations are very serious. This is the first time an individual has been charged with inciting the obstruction of a Commonwealth official in relation to an ACCC investigation," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.
Meanwhile, the ACCC's civil proceedings against BlueScope are ongoing, the company said Oct. 8.
The ACCC kicked off civil proceedings in the federal court against BlueScope and Ellis in late August for alleged cartel conduct in the supply of flat steel products.
The competition regulator said that between September 2013 and June 2014, BlueScope and Ellis tried to get various steel distributors in Australia and overseas manufacturers to enter into agreements containing a price-fixing provision.
