Norwegian shipping firm the latest domino to fall locally in case dating back to 2011-12
Norwegian-based global shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean AS (WWO) has pleaded guilty to criminal cartel conduct in the Federal Court.
After an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigation, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) charged WWO on August 23, 2019, with cartel conduct regarding the transportation of vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses, to Australia between June 2011 and July 2012.
“We are pleased that by entering a guilty plea, WWO has acknowledged its role in this criminal cartel,” ACCC chair Rod Sims says.
“This plea means the last of the cases in the long-running shipping cartel matters is now closer to being resolved.”
Read a historical look at how the case unfolded, here
The case has been adjourned for sentencing at a later date.
Previously known as Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS, the company is the third guilty party in Australia in relation to this cartel.
On July 18, 2016, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) pleaded guilty to criminal cartel conduct and was convicted and fined $25 million on August 3, 2017.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K-Line) pleaded guilty to criminal cartel conduct on April 5, 2018, and was convicted and fined $34.5 million on August 2, 2019.