Murdoch: One.Tel affidavit now in doubt

Lachlan Murdoch

SYDNEY - Former News Corp executive Lachlan Murdoch has told a court that some information he put in an affidavit about the collapse of One.Tel in 2001 might be wrong.

Murdoch was giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court in a civil case brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) against One.Tel founder Jodee Rich and finance director Mark Silbermann.

Counsel for Rich, David Williams QC, yesterday asked Murdoch about an affidavit he had signed on May 24, 2002.

In the affidavit, Murdoch said he had joined a January 2001 One.Tel board meeting by phone. He said One.Tel management, including Rich, gave detailed information about the telco's financial situation.

But Murdoch yesterday said he was no longer sure he had participated in the meeting. He told the court this was because the board minutes, which stated he was present, conflicted with a note he had in his files.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (PBL) together lost almost A$1 billion ($1.07 billion) when the telco went into voluntary administration on May 30, 2001. Lachlan Murdoch was New Corp's representative on the One.Tel board and current PBL chairman James Packer, who will give evidence next week, represented his father's company.

The commission is suing Rich and Silbermann for A$92 million over the telco's 2001 collapse.

- AAP