The former managing director of Burns Philp Trustee Company (Canberra) Limited (Burns Philp), Peter Daniels Clarke, has appeared before the ACT Supreme Court today after being extradited from Germany.

Mr Clarke fled Australia in June 2000 while on bail awaiting sentence after pleading guilty in January 2000 to five charges brought by ASIC relating to his position as a director of Burns Philp.

Mr Clarke pleaded guilty on 27 January 2000 to five Corporations Law charges relating to him intentionally defrauding Burns Philp clients of approximately $4.1 million by the improper use of his position.

Burns Philp was placed into receivership in December 1993 and subsequently liquidation in June 1994.

Mr Clarke was remanded into custody and will return to court for sentencing on 24 January 2011.

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.