Ex-Portsmouth owner Mandaric vows to clear his name over tax charges

13 January 2010 15:23
Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric has vowed to prove his innocence after he was charged with two counts of tax evasion.   [LNB]Mandaric, the former owner of Portsmouth, strenuously denied the allegations when it emerged last month that prosecutors intended to bring charges.   [LNB]He will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 11 charged with two counts of 'cheating the public revenue'.   [LNB] 'Disappointed': Milan Mandaric is now chairman of Championship side Leicester[LNB]Mandaric, 71, was arrested with former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and three other men in November 2007 as part of an inquiry by fraud detectives to root out alleged corruption in football.[LNB] Both Mandaric and Redknapp, who has not been charged, have strenuously denied any wrongdoing.   [LNB]The charges against Mandaric relate to the alleged payment of 295,000 US dollars (£183,000) to another person via a bank account in Monaco, evading the tax and national insurance contributions due between April 1, 2002 and November 28, 2007, the Crown Prosecution Service said.   [LNB]  Mandaric issued a statement on Leicester's official club website, which read: 'I am surprised and very disappointed that I have been charged by HMRC.   [LNB]'This was a personal matter and nothing to do with football. I have done nothing wrong and independent tax experts have already confirmed that, in their opinion, there is no tax liability.   [LNB]'My solicitors, Cartwright King, will be assisting me to vigorously defend the case when it goes to court and prove that I am innocent of this allegation.'[LNB]Mandaric was chairman of Portsmouth from 1998 to 2006. He completed his takeover of Leicester in February 2007.[LNB] Ex-Portsmouth chairman Mandaric charged with cheating public revenue 'Farcical' tax inquiry will not impact Redknapp's jobYounes Kaboul is injured - not up for sale - insists Pompey boss Avram GrantPORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail