Charges against Jenny Hutson dropped after seven years

The case against Jenny Hutson, the former chairwoman of G8 Education, has been dropped. Hutson faced criminal charges related to her role at Australia's largest publicly listed childcare operator. The charges, which had been in place for nearly seven years, included allegations of misusing company funds and providing false information during a takeover attempt. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) had pursued the case, but its operations have recently faced criticism from a Senate committee. Earlier this year, a trial was expected to start but was repeatedly postponed. Hutson had firmly denied the charges and had requested documentation from ASIC. On Wednesday, during a court hearing, it was revealed that the prosecutor had decided to discontinue the charges against Hutson. Her lawyer announced that they were informed the indictments would be dropped. Though the charges were dismissed, that does not prevent ASIC from filing new ones in the future. Hutson expressed relief after the charges were dropped but chose not to speak to the media outside the court. She is known for her successful career as a lawyer and businesswoman. In 2007, she was named Queensland Businesswoman of the Year and has had a varied career in sectors from travel to childcare. Previously, there had been disputes over her conduct during a 2015 attempted acquisition of Affinity Education, which led to regulatory scrutiny. Although allegations were made about misappropriating funds for purchasing shares, former colleagues have defended her work ethic and adherence to the law. Alongside Hutson, other charges related to the same investigation were also dropped on Thursday, including those against a former G8 general counsel. The reasons for discontinuing the case against Hutson were not disclosed by the prosecutors.