According to national media reports, the court heard that former Amcor manager Ian Hottes allegedly confessed on his deathbed that he and four then-Amcor executives sold part of the company to themselves.

The packaging group is now suing former managers Jim Hodgson, Trevor Barnes, Ian Sangster, Christopher Bayley, Craig Holihan and Albert Mihelic, for improperly selling the Amcor subsidiaries.

Media reports outline that Hottes – who bought Amcor’s service packaging arm in 2002 – admitted before his death in 2004, that he had four partners in the deal who still worked for the company.

Fairfax Media reports that the company was bought for $81,650, despite being valued at over $1.2m just two years later.

However the managers plan to strongly defend the allegations. Counsel for Hodgson, Charles Gunst, QC was quoted by Fairfax saying there was “not a skerrick of evidence produced by Amcor to prove them.”

The case is being heard at the same time as a wrongful dismissal claim brought by Hodgson.

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