Former Ralan Group managing director William O’Dwyer has been sentenced to immediate imprisonment after pleading guilty to six offences of obtaining a financial advantage by deception contrary to section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

On 2 February 2024, the District Court of NSW sentenced Mr O’Dwyer to four years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and four months.

The charges that Mr O’Dwyer pleaded guilty to related to the following conduct:

• That between 17 April 2015 and 6 June 2018, Mr O’Dwyer, by deception, dishonestly obtained for companies in the Ralan Group the ability to draw down on finance facilities totalling $251 million.
• The Ralan Group obtained the loans in respect of the development of residential projects in Sydney, Arncliffe, Turramurra and Gordon.
• As part of the loan agreements, the companies were required to satisfy lenders that pre-sale deposits paid by purchasers of residences in the developments were held in trust before draw down on the loans could occur.
• Mr O’Dwyer deceived the lenders into believing that the pre-sale deposits were held in a trust account, when in fact they had been loaned by the purchasers back to the respective development company for use as working capital.
• Approximately $132 million was drawn down upon the facilities, with approximately $47 million repaid by the time the companies in the Ralan Group went into administration in July 2019. A further amount is expected to be recouped by the lenders following their purchase and development of the Arncliffe property.

In his sentencing remarks District Court Judge Anderson said that the financial advantage obtained was ‘enormous’ and that O’Dwyer’s conduct was ongoing and deliberate, and a calculated fraud.

ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said, ‘Today’s penalty is significant and emphasises the seriousness of fraudulent activities, together with ASIC’s commitment to investigate and prosecute such cases, and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.’

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions following a referral by ASIC.

Background

In July 2019, the companies in the Ralan Group entered voluntary administration and were placed in liquidation by 6 March 2020.

In November 2019, the liquidator of the companies, Said Jahani at Grant Thornton, estimated that the Ralan Group owed unsecured creditors $323 million. Mr O’Dwyer pleaded guilty to the charges on 22 August 2023.

Dishonestly obtaining any financial advantage by deception, fraud, is an offence contrary to section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

The maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment.

Editor's Note 1:

A sentence appeal hearing is listed for 17 February 2025 in the Court of Criminal Appeal at the NSW Supreme Court.

Editor's Note 2:

On 17 February 2025, following an application made by the appellant, the Court of Criminal Appeal ordered that the sentence appeal hearing be vacated. The matter was relisted for directions before the Registrar on 20 February 2025.