Charges dropped against Clive Palmer’s media man Andrew Crook

The case against ­Andrew Crook has been dropped, six years after he was charged for allegedly plotting to kidnap a NAB employee.

Andrew Crook leaves court in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

The languishing case against Clive Palmer’s media adviser ­Andrew Crook has been dropped, six years after he was charged for allegedly plotting with a former detective and AFL player to kidnap a National Australia Bank employee.

He was charged in late 2014, with former policeman Michael Featherstone and former AFL player Tony Smith, on one count of fraud and one count of retal­iation/intimidation against a juror, witness or family, as part of a plot targeting a bank manager.

The charges against Mr Featherstone and Mr Smith were also dropped by the ­Director of Public Prosecutions at a hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Magistrate Mark Nolan dismissed the charges.

In a statement, Mr Crook, who also works as a media adviser­ to Flight Centre founders Graham “Skroo’’ Turner and Jude Turner, said he was relieved the matter had been dropped and his name cleared.

“I have maintained from day one that I was innocent,” he said.

“It has taken six long years for vindication but the day has finally arrived. It is an enormous weight off my shoulders.”

Mr Crook said the impact of the case had been devastating.

“For a matter to be held back in the Magistrates Court for six years has been frustrating,” he said. “One wonders whether the system is just broken or if polit­ical motivations were at play.”

He thanked his family and friends. “I have had incredible support from people close to me, my wonderful family and friends and business associates including Clive Palmer and Skroo and Jude Turner. I will be forever grateful,” Mr Crook said.

Police had previously alleged that Mr Crook, Mr Featherstone and former Sydney Swan Mr Smith sought to lure an NAB ­employee to an Indonesian island­ in January 2013 with a fake job ­opportunity as “global fin­ancial officer” for Mr Palmer. All three had denied the claims.

Police said that Mr Palmer had nothing to do with the supposed­ plot.

A spokesman for the Office of the Director of Public Prose­cutions cited a lack of evidence as the reason that the charges were dropped.