Phil Rudd acquitted of CAA charges

Phil Rudd

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been acquitted of deliberately lying about his prior drug use to obtain a medical certificate to enable him to renew his private pilot licence.

Judge Louis Bidois who delivered his reserve decision today in Tauranga District Court after a defended hearing yesterday, said he was very suspicious in terms of Rudd's answers on the medical form.

"But suspicion is not enough and Mr Rudd will get the benefit of doubt despite some shortcomings in his evidence," the judge said.

Rudd, 59, denied a charge that he deliberately made a misleading statement in his medical certificate application on June 13, 2012 when he answered no to the question about having any history of drug use.

The Civil Aviation Authority alleged Rudd deliberately failed to declare his self-confessed previous cannabis use in the medical history section of the form.

Rudd was caught with 23 grams of cannabis on his launch and another small quantity at his home during a police raid in October 2010, but won a discharge without conviction for a possession of cannabis charge on appeal.

Rudd, who earlier admitted a charge that between August 2012 and April 203 he failed to maintain an accurate record in a pilot's log book, was fined $750 plus court costs and $150 solicitor's fees.

Outside court a clearly relieved Rudd declined to comment.