Blackmail charges against CFMEU boss John Setka to be dropped

Blackmail charges against CMFEU boss John Setka and his deputy Shaun Reardon will be dropped, according to The Age investigative reporter Nick McKenzie.

McKenzie told Neil Mitchell the announcement will be made later this morning.

“This is a major, major embarrassment and loss for prosecutors, police and the royal commission, whose investigation led to the charges being laid in the first place,” he said.

“It’s a significant win for the CFMEU and the union movement as a whole which has argued for many years that the royal commission was a witch hunt.

“It’s an unmitigated disaster for the royal commission and for prosecutors.”

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“The decision will be withdrawn was made yesterday,” Nick said.

“I suspect, in fact I know, the reason is likely to be because of the problems with the evidence delivered by key witnesses in the case.”

Photo: AAP