Another hung jury in Sayers tax case

The tax fraud retrial of Ausdrill managing director and founder Ron Sayers has again ended in a hung jury, leaving the executive free to resume his duties with the company.

After a four-week trial in the West Australian Supreme Court and three days of deliberations, the jury could also not reach a verdict for Mr Sayers' friend and Barminco director and co-founder, Peter Bartlett.

The pair were accused of a conspiracy to defraud the commonwealth involving trusts through which they owned Barminco, an underground mining contractor.

They were charged, along with tax scheme promoter Greg Dunn and then-graduate trainee accountant Deborah Grace, over activities alleged to have taken place between 2002 and 2004.

After the first trial late last year, Ms Grace was acquitted of the charge, which carries a possible jail term of up to 10 years, while Dunn was found guilty.

In a statement released to the Australian Securities Exchange shortly after the jury foreman's announcement on Friday, Ausdrill said Mr Sayers would resume all duties with the company immediately.

With the possibility of a third trial looming, the matter has been listed for directions later this month.