Norway-based shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WWO) has been charged with criminal cartel conduct in Australia.
The charge relates to alleged cartel conduct concerning the international shipping of certain vehicles to Australia between June 2011 and July 2012, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) unveiled on August 23 after continuing investigations into the matter.
“This is the third prosecution involving an international shipping company engaging in alleged cartel conduct where criminal charges have been laid under the Competition and Consumer Act,” Rod Sims, ACCC Chair, said.
The charge was laid by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution (CDPP) in the NSW District Registry of the Federal Court. The matter has been set down by the court for a first mention on August 29, 2019.
This matter has been investigated and prosecuted in a number of other jurisdictions, including the United States.
The charges follows convictions against Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), in August 2017 and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) in August 2019 for cartel conduct in the same cartel WWO has allegedly participated in.