P. M. BRIEFING : Hooker Corp. Chief Charged

BRISBANE, Australia — The chairman of Australia’s Hooker Corp., which had U.S. retail and development interests before going into provisional liquidation last year with bank debts of about $1 billion, was ordered today to stand trial on corruption charges.

A magistrate in the northern state of Queensland ruled that George Herscu, chairman and former chief executive of the property development and retail company, explain payments allegedly made to Russell Hinze, a former state minister, in 1983.

It was alleged that Herscu paid the money so that Hinze would intervene in a dispute between the Brisbane City Council and a shopping center development company associated with Herscu.

Herscu has not entered any plea to the charges. The trial is expected to start in June.