COO gives testimony in collusion hearing

The chief operating officer of wire manufacturer Cape Gate has accused one of its alleged co-colluders, the Allens Meshco Group (AMG), of attempting to meddle with Competition Tribunal proceedings.

Barend Coetzee, who continued testifying yesterday in the hearing into the wire manufacturing cartel, last week handed two damning letters to a panel of the Competition Tribunal.

Wire manufacturers Cape Gate and AMG, along with Consolidated Wire (CWI) are accused of engaging in collusive tendering and price-fixing between 2001 and 2008.

CWI received conditional leniency for cooperating with the investigation, but Cape Gate and AMG were referred to the Tribunal for prosecution in 2009.

While Cape Gate has admitted to its role in the cartel, AMG denies being involved.

Coetzee claimed that AMG director Rick Allen approached him and asked him not to testify before the tribunal.

But AMG denied the allegations, saying Allen only approached Coetzee as, at the time, the parties had hoped to reach a settlement agreement with the Competition Commission.Proceedings are expected to continue today.