Scale Facilitation founder David Collard breaks silence as assault charges dropped in New York

Australian entrepreneur David Collard has broken his silence about the collapse of his business empire after facing a New York court on assault charges. See the pictures.

Exclusive: A controversial Australian entrepreneur has broken his silence about the collapse of his start-up empire, arguing “negative coverage” of a police raid on his office is to blame for devaluing assets he claims were worth more than $1 billion.

Scale Facilitation founder David Collard also claimed he was “advanced in finding a solution” to pay months of wages owed to staff when his business was wound up – even though liquidators have been unable to find a cent to settle debts totalling $23m.

The businessman spoke out after appearing in New York’s Criminal Court on Friday (local time) to strike a deal to have assault and harassment charges against him dropped in exchange for completing anger management classes.

David Collard appears in New York Criminal Court alongside his Legal Aid lawyer Allyssa Myers. Picture: Jefferson Siegel

The charges stemmed from an incident on November 15 at 1.30am in Manhattan in which Mr Collard allegedly punched a man in the face, causing “substantial pain” according to court records. He claimed he was defending a female friend who was “experiencing harassment”.

In a brief hearing, Judge Pamela Goldsmith said the charges would be dismissed and sealed in three months as long as Mr Collard was not arrested again.

Two bodyguards flanked the businessman who smiled broadly as he fronted court despite concerns that he would be confronted by his angry ex-employees.

A day earlier, Worrells liquidator Scott Anderson issued a scathing report about the collapse of SaniteX, the Victorian-based business at the centre of Mr Collard’s operation across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

David Collard smiles as he arrives at New York Criminal Court with two bodyguards. Picture: Jefferson Siegel

Mr Anderson said the company’s accounts – claiming assets of $1.2bn and a $1bn profit in the year before it collapsed – were “not a true and correct reflection” of its financial position.

He blasted SaniteX’s failure to maintain proper records and threatened to refer Mr Collard to the corporate watchdog if he continued to fail to provide information he requested.

Mr Collard refused to speak outside the Manhattan courthouse, before he later issued a statement in which he doubled down in defending his business and denied any wrongdoing amid an ongoing investigation of serious tax fraud allegations in Australia.

The charges against David Collard were dismissed after he completed anger management classes. Picture: Jefferson Siegel

Australian Federal Police officers raided SaniteX’s office last June as part of the probe, which Mr Collard said caused a “substantial loss in value” in assets he claimed had been independently valued at more than $1bn.

“The negative coverage of the raid severely impacted the financial structures required to finalise the largest transaction in the company’s history at the time,” he said.

No charges have been laid.

David Collard with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Picture: Supplied

Asked what he had to say to his unpaid staff, with 68 owed a combined $4.1m in Australia, Mr Collard sought to blame another unpaid contractor whose lawsuit last year prompted the Victorian Supreme Court to wind up the company and appoint a liquidator.

“We were advanced in finding a solution to settle their dues,” he said.

“Unfortunately this derailed our efforts and placed the collection of their dues under the control of the liquidator.”

Mr Collard said he had “provided information they have required” to Worrells and that he would “continue to provide further support … to further clarify the company’s standing”.

The businessman’s last chance to resurrect his fortunes rests on taking over Britishvolt and building a battery gigafactory, although the UK company’s administrators recently moved to negotiate with other buyers after Mr Collard was unable to find the cash to close the deal.

But Mr Collard maintained he was confident he could complete the transaction.