A BALLARAT real estate agent
accused of improper conduct with a
staff member in a vendor's home
was yesterday cleared.
The Real Estate Institute of Vic
toria ruled the complaint against
agent Geoff Sewell was unfounded.
The REIV announced the findings
yesterday after a full investigation,
publicy naming Mr Sewell for the
first time.
Vendor John Skewes claimed his
daughter had discovered Mr Sewell
and a staff member in a compromis
ing position at his home, which the
agent had been commissioned to
sell.
But REIV president Enzo
Raimondo said the industry watch
dog had considered correspon
dence from all parties embroiled in
the scandal. It concluded that the
woman named in the allegations
was overseas when the incident
was alleged to have occurred.
"Based on the written statements
provided to the REIV, Mr Sewell was
simply showing a potential buyer
through the property dressed in
casual clothes on his first day back
from holiday," Mr Raimondo said.
"There is no evidence that Mr
Sewell had engaged in any improper
conduct and, accordingly, has been
completely exonerated by the
REIV."
Speaking to the media for the
first time since the allegations
surfaced, Mr Sewell yesterday ex
pressed relief that the matter was over, saying it had affected
a lot of innocent people.
"That (outcome) was
really good but nothing that
I didn't expect; I expected
the truth would come out
eventually it was just a
matter of it taking its
course," he said.
Mr Sewell said he relin
quished rights to sell the
property yesterday out of
"logical commonsense and
good practice."
However, he has not
ruled out pursuing legal
action against the com
plainant and the media,
whom he accused of adopt
ing a "kneejerk" reaction."
"The case is in the hands
of my solicitors now so I've
got nothing further to add.
"My solicitors have got
various courses of legal
action in their hands."
Mr Skewes was unable to
be contacted yesterday.