An investigation by New South Wales Corporate Affairs led to obstruction, fraud and conspiracy charges over secret Nugan Hand accounts. The charges were laid against multiple Nugan employees and family, including now ex-detectives Fred Krahe and Keith Kelly. The charges against Krahe and Kelly were based upon their conduct reported at two rowdy Nugan Fruit Company board meetings in 1977. It was alleged the two had provided stock shares belonging to Frank Nugan to members of their own families, and also to some associates (described as drunken thugs), then brought them to a board meeting for a vote. This was an effort to outmanoeuvre a shareholder attempt to expand control of Nugan Fruit (in reaction to the legal advice of the board's independent auditor), by exploiting a complicated loophole in Australian corporate law regarding minority voting rights. They voted the company's insurance agents off the board, and fired the auditors. The minority shareholders cried foul, leading to the obstruction and fraud charges against Krahe. Kelly and Krahe claimed that they had merely been asked an unwelcome favour from Frank Nugan, and were unaware that what they had done was wrong. After a committal hearing before Clarrie Briese SM, the charges against Krahe and Kelly were dismissed. The two were awarded costs. Kelly's award totalled $17,500. The other defendants were committed for trial. Frank Nugan committed suicide before his trial in 1980.