KEY POINTS:
A former Hawkes Bay real estate agent found guilty of knocking down the price of two units to almost half their asking price in an attempt to buy the properties himself says he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Graeme Sawyer, formerly of Bayleys, said last night the
Real Estate Agents Licensing Board had found he was a fit and proper person to act in the industry.
He also hit out at critics and the media, saying his career had been ruined and he had now formed his own business, coaching other real estate agents.
His case hit the headlines last year, when Bayleys pleaded guilty to three charges and was fined the maximum $750 on each charge.
Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove then announced he would overhaul real estate law and his draft bill replacing the Real Estate Agents Act 1976 is expected to be introduced into the House before Christmas.
Crown Law was also brought into the matter, charged with investigating the Sawyer affair when the Real Estate Institute failed to refer the actions to the licensing board. It said the board had to hear the matter.
At issue was an offer townhouse owner Deb Leask got from Mr Sawyer for her houses several years ago, even though Mr Sawyer worked for Bayleys at the time.
He knocked down the price to slightly over half what she subsequently received when selling through another agency.
Mr Sawyer, a former policeman, said last night a hearing had been held six weeks ago into whether he was a fit and proper person to be in the industry.
"I never denied that I made an offer and it was a very fair and reasonable offer at the time. And I emphasise 'at the time' because the market took off," he said.
"I did everything correctly and I always have done so. I always considered that I have been an honest and ethical real estate agent for 15 years."
He had not sold real estate for the past year.
"Because of this case and what the media and yourself did, it completely ruined my reputation and career. It's been a harrowing experience."
Murray Cleland, the institute's president, said he was unaware of the decision but knew its release was imminent.
Deb Leask said from Australia last night she fully expected Mr Sawyer to be cleared. "I'm not surprised. We knew this would happen. It's just typical of the institute. They couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. This is exactly why the law has to be changed."
She said the investigation had not been thorough and had not uncovered all the facts.