Harold Shand jury begins deliberations

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a businessman who allegedly paid Queensland government minister Gordon Nuttall a secret commission.

Mining investor Harold Warner Shand, 59, is on trial in the Brisbane District Court, accused of paying Nuttall $60,000 as a secret commission in April 2002.

Shand has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

During the trial the crown alleged the payment was made in the hope that Nuttall - then the industrial relations minister - would use his influence in government to help advance the business dealings of the company Capregin.

The jury began deliberations this afternoon.

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