Football corruption probe in question

11 February 2009 21:46
The investigation, instigated by City of London Police, has been running since April 2007 at a cost of £250,000, and while seven football figures, including Brady, remain on bail no charges have yet been levelled. [LNB]The involvement of HMRC, revealed on Wednesday by City of London Police to the annoyance of the tax authority, has given a change of emphasis to the investigation and left many of those involved questioning the new direction. [LNB]Brady may not be the last of the seven to face questioning from the HMRC investigators, with City police saying that an extension of the tax-related inquiry was possible. "Nothing has been ruled out," a spokeswoman said. [LNB]While the tax authorities begin their work, City police are still actively pursuing lines of inquiry in relation to some of those on bail. It is understood that associates of some of those under suspicion have received correspondence in the past few weeks asking for co-operation. [LNB]City police insist HMRC have been involved from the start, but that has been questioned by some of those under suspicion. It has also left some wondering whether the involvement of the tax authorities is tacit acknowledgement that the police search for evidence of more serious criminal offences has failed, and that they are falling back on potential tax offences to save face. [LNB]David Gold, Birmingham's chairman, leapt to the defence of his colleagues yesterday. He insisted no new evidence was provided to justify Brady's arrest, thought to relate to the signing of Aliou Cisse and Ferdinand Coly, players represented by agent Willie McKay who were purchased in 2002. [LNB]"It is a witch-hunt against football," Gold said. "I have read every single document, from the police… and I have read nothing that is of a criminal nature. The police were involved, and they now feel that the PAYE and NI are more appropriate. [LNB]"I don't know why it has taken so long. These people have lives to live. It is not fair. They should be respected, not treated like criminals."[LNB]Operation Apprentice, under the guidance of Detective Inspector David Manley, was instigated to investigate suspicions of money laundering in the transfer market and centred on deals involving McKay, an agent and latterly racehorse trainer. [LNB]Between November 2007 and April 2008, then Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric and the club's chief executive, Peter Storrie, Stoke midfielder Amdy Faye, McKay, Brady and Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. They all deny any wrongdoing. [LNB]The police operation did not want for manpower, with 28 officers raiding McKay's home at 6am, and a similar number at Redknapp's home, an action the High Court later ruled unlawful. [LNB]Last November the police indicated that they hoped to conclude the case by February, but the involvement of HMRC has prompted at least another six months of uncertainty. The blanket arrests, the drawn-out nature of the investigation and the absence of charges has caused tremendous resentment among those involved. The case is certain to drag on for at least another four months, with the new bail dates for those involved not expiring until June. [LNB]Operation Apprentice timeline[LNB]Dec 2006: Lord Stevens inquiry into Premier League transfers concludes, with 17 deals remaining under suspicion.April 2007: City of London Police launch Operation Apprentice based on information received from 'inside football' about potential money laundering offences.Aug 2007: David Sullivan and Karren Brady of Birmingham City interviewed by police. Sept 2007: Tottenham full-back Pascal Chimbonda arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. Subsequently released from bail. Nov 2007: Willie McKay, Amdy Faye, Peter Storrie, Milan Mandaric, Harry Redknapp (pictured) arrested. The five were questioned by officers from the City of London's Economic Crime Department on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.April 2008: Brady and Sullivan arrested.Feb 2009: Brady arrested in relation to unspecified tax offences.May-June 2009: All seven of those still under suspicion answer bail. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph