Lewis Saragossi charged with indecent treatment over claims dating to the 1990s

One of Queensland’s richest men has been charged with indecent treatment of a child, allegedly dating back to the 1990s.

Qld businessman Lewis Saragossi.

One of Queensland’s richest men has been charged with indecent treatment of a child in the 1990s.

Lewis Saragossi, the managing director of glass and aluminium producers G. James, was arrested at his Sunnybank Hills home on October 11 and accused of indecent treatment of a minor in July 1993, and two other charges.

The manufacturing heir was ranked the tenth-richest person in Queensland on a list published in July this year, with an estimated worth of $820 million.

Mr Saragossi, 65, was granted watch-house bail and did not appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning where the historical charge was laid bare in court documents.

Police from Brisbane’s Child Protection and Investigation Unit allege Mr Saragossi indecently dealt with the minor, who at one point was under 12 years of age, at a residence in an inner Brisbane suburb.

The notoriously private Saragossi family has regularly ranked high in Queensland rich lists and their fortune has grown in recent years thanks to the construction boom.

Mr Saragossi is a prominent member of Brisbane’s Jewish community and took the reins of the G. James group of companies after his father died in 2005.

The private, family owned group of companies under the G. James banner operate from 32 different sites across Australia and employ more than 2000 people.

The company celebrated 100 years in operation in 2017.

Mr Saragossi’s lawyer Glen Cranny issued a statement late yesterday on behalf of his client saying the charges would be defended.

“In respect to today’s media reports about certain charges having been laid against Mr Lewis Saragossi, he intends to plead not guilty to these charges and to defend them fully on the basis that they are untrue and unfounded,” the statement said.

“The allegations do not concern the business of G James and will have no impact on the ongoing operations of the business or Mr Saragossi’s work in the business.

“He will not be commenting further until this matter is resolved.”