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New Zealand kiwifruit boss Tim Goodacre faces possible criminal charges for his alleged role in kickbacks paid to Saddam Hussein's Iraq in the oil-for-food scandal.
Mr Goodacre has been named as one of 16 Australian Wheat Board figures who could face charges relating to dishonest dealings and deception if an Australian royal commission accepts confidential recommendations put to it by its legal adviser.
He was a senior manager when the board allegedly breached United Nations sanctions by paying $330 million to Saddam's regime to secure wheat contracts.
Mr Goodacre is due to leave his post in March, but told the Herald he would consider resigning earlier if charged.
Mr Goodacre gave evidence to the Cole Inquiry in February and denied knowing that "trucking payments", made as part of the contracts, were kickbacks.
The Zespri board has revealed it hired its own lawyer to monitor his evidence.
In July, Mr Goodacre announced he would leave in March to pursue "other aspirations".
He and the board denied the decision had anything to do with the Cole Inquiry.
The final report of the year-long, multi-million-dollar inquiry by Commissioner Terence Cole is due on November 24.
The leaked details of confidential submissions to the commissioner by senior inquiry counsel John Agius name top wheat board members as possible accessories to offences involving dishonesty and deception.
The exact details of the allegations against Mr Goodacre were not specified, but those named were given an opportunity to respond - something his lawyer, Peter Crombie, did last month.
