The Sevco saga continues ...

[Mysterion]

10 hours ago, Brick Tamland said:

Great answer from him at the end 

 

This is the Swedish equivalent of Levein's "It's a good laugh isn't it" 

[Ex member of the SaS]

Slightly off subject but it's being reported their fans let off fireworks outside the opposition hotel, trying to disrupt their sleep before the game. If that's what it takes to beat them, then they really are not as good as they claim.

[Footballfirst]

From the Herald.

 

FORMER Rangers chief executive Charles Green has won over £6m from the Lord Advocate in a settlement over his £20m claim for being wrongfully prosecuted in the club fraud case.

Details of the settlement came as an eight day hearing to judge the amount of damages was about to take place.

Garry Borland QC for Mr Green said the settlement from Lord Advocate James Wolffe came overnight and that the former Rangers executive was "content to accept it".

He said settlement came in the form of a judicial tender in the amount of £6,393,046 pounds plus Mr Green's legal cost

It emerged during an earlier hearing that Police Scotland were no longer being sued as part of the action brought by Mr Green. No reasons were given as to why this was the case.

The 67-year-old businessman was arrested with several other men following a police probe into alleged fraud relation to the sale of the current Scottish champions to businessman Craig Whyte.

Mr Green, whose Sevco consortium, bought the assets of the club business in liquidation nine years ago for £5.5m was due to receive compensation after Crown lawyers accepted he was subjected to a malicious fraud prosecution.

Mr Green was told three years ago they would face no further proceedings in connection with the case as prosecutors said there is "now no evidence of a crime".

The decision by the Crown Office had marked the end of the two-and-a-half-year long proceedings which saw only Craig Whyte face trial and led to no convictions.

Part of Mr Green's claim related to losses made from two businesses after he was prosecuted.

The Lord Advocate has previously made a public apology to Mr Green as the damages case was due to be progressed.

A full hearing in his £20m damages claim over wrongful arrest to decide how much should be awarded was due on Monday.

But Mr Borland said: "Mr Green was the victim of an egregious wrong at the hands of prosecuting authorities and the proof this morning was fixed to deal with the quantification of his claims against the Lord Advocate.

"Last night the Lord Advocate, made an offer to settle this case, in the form of a judicial tender in the amount of £6,393,046 plus payment of Mr Green's legal costs to date.

"That offer of settlement by the Lord Advocate was made overnight.

"I took instructions this morning and Mr Green is content to accept that settlement offer.

"And I therefore move the court this morning to grant decree in favour of Mr Green.

He added: "In conclusion, my lord at this stage, it will be for the public enquiry, to examine how this malicious prosecution of Mr Green could possibly have been allowed to happen. But at this stage, I would simply thank this court for its handling of these civil proceedings."

Lord Tyre said: "Obviously, from my part, I'm happy that the case was settled. I could grumble about the fact that it took until the morning of the proof and therefore, it would have saved me obviously some work if this had happened last week, but in the circumstances I shall refrain from doing so."

Gerry Moyniham QC, for the Lord Advocate James Wolffe said: "There is no opposition to what my learned friend has made by way of motions, and it's not appropriate for me to add anything, or comment.

Mr Moynihan said at an earlier hearing that more information was needed about the financial losses relating to Mr Green.

He said one of the issues in the cases related to the amount of damage that was done to a company both men had been involved with called Proton International. There was further information needed on damage done to a firm Mr Green had been involved with, Florida-based firm called Croton.

Mr Moynihan said Mr Green’s legal team had submitted a report written by staff members of international financial services company KPMG about the financial losses.

Mr Whyte, who ended up being the last man standing in the long-running case, was cleared in the summer of 2017 of all charges in connection with his takeover of seven years ago.

The cases brought by Mr Green come in the light of admissions made by the Crown in another case brought by businessmen David Whitehouse and Paul Clark. 

Prosecutors admitted Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark were wrongfully arrested and prosecuted and the two men sought a total of £20.8 million from the Crown Office and Police Scotland.

 But they later settled their action with each of them receiving £10.3 million each - their legal bills, thought to be worth £3 million each, were also paid for. 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Footballfirst

[Hagar the Horrible]

13 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

From the Herald.

 

FORMER Rangers chief executive Charles Green has won over £6m from the Lord Advocate in a settlement over his £20m claim for being wrongfully prosecuted in the club fraud case.

Details of the settlement came as an eight day hearing to judge the amount of damages was about to take place.

Garry Borland QC for Mr Green said the settlement from Lord Advocate James Wolffe came overnight and that the former Rangers executive was "content to accept it".

He said settlement came in the form of a judicial tender in the amount of £6,393,046 pounds plus Mr Green's legal cost

It emerged during an earlier hearing that Police Scotland were no longer being sued as part of the action brought by Mr Green. No reasons were given as to why this was the case.

The 67-year-old businessman was arrested with several other men following a police probe into alleged fraud relation to the sale of the current Scottish champions to businessman Craig Whyte.

So we still dont get an insight into the 5WA?  How much now has this fiasco cost the tax payer?  £5m wee tax case, £95m big tax case, damages to crooks £millions.  The carcass has been striped bare, and still provides sustanance for those whom have zero morals

[Glamorgan Jambo]

Charles has hit the jackpot. Not in the way and in the timeframe he originally intended but there we go. And he had to spend a night in the cells to get it.

 

I highly doubt any of the businesses he was involved in would have made a fraction of the amount received but fair does he got someone from KPMG to prepare a statement and the defence team settled before it could be tested in court.

 

Will be interesting to see what comes from the Imran Ahmad case.

[Deevers]

1 hour ago, Hagar the Horrible said:

So we still dont get an insight into the 5WA?  How much now has this fiasco cost the tax payer?  £5m wee tax case, £95m big tax case, damages to crooks £millions.  The carcass has been striped bare, and still provides sustanance for those whom have zero morals

And no one being held to account for the catalogue of mistakes  being made by the Police and Crown Office in dealing with all of this.  Millions of pounds of public money poured down the sink and no one accountable. Silence from the Scottish Government. 

[Shanks said no]

Sweep sweep sweep

[Deevers]

1 minute ago, Deke Thornton said:

Mulholland got a judge’s gig on the back of his catastrophic stewardship of the Lord Advocate job. But according to him he’s not responsible. Close to 30 million pounds of taxpayer’s money already lost to this disaster.

 

Truly disgusting.  Everyone from the top down washing their hands of any responsibility for a shocking waste of tax payers money.  

[Don Dan]

I’m obviously in the wrong job. Charlatans and lawyers making small and large fortunes for being useless and crooked.  No one is ever held accountable for anything to do with this horror show. 

[CJGJ]

45 minutes ago, Deevers said:

Truly disgusting.  Everyone from the top down washing their hands of any responsibility for a shocking waste of tax payers money.  

That really is the point.........just who was responsible for the various prosecutions and what evidence did they have to proceed ?

 

There is a person or small cabal who made the decisions and they should be named given the costs involved

 

Of course we are looking back at events but there was a rush to condemn anyone or anything linked with them at the time and judgement seems to have gone out the window perhaps as they felt public pressure forced them to take action when there should have been a point to just say 'hold on is this right'

Were those making the decisions free from bias or was emotion the driving force ?

 

It was not helped by all the nonsense blogged, printed and fed to the media and public from shall we say non independent sources......most of which was nonsense but treated as though it was fact.

In addition the various characters involved in the liquidation/administration/takeovers did not fill you with confidence in their actions

 

 

[TyphoonJambo]

Stinks to high heaven. Surely someone should be held accountable for such a large loss of public money. The legal system, police,Lawers and judges should hang their heads in shame.

Q someone posting the blackadder court martial scene😝

[Spellczech]

4 hours ago, Deke Thornton said:

Mulholland got a judge’s gig on the back of his catastrophic stewardship of the Lord Advocate job. But according to him he’s not responsible. Close to 30 million pounds of taxpayer’s money already lost to this disaster.

 

No way should he still be collecting a pay packet from the public purse after costing >£30m + all the legal bills...There is no chance that such a high profile prosecution was not approved (and probably controlled) from the very top of the Lord Advocate's office, and even if it was not, then it should have been so he was still incompetent!

Edited August 10, 2021 by Spellczech

[Shanks said no]

3 hours ago, TypoonJambo said:

Stinks to high heaven. Surely someone should be held accountable for such a large loss of public money. The legal system, police,Lawers and judges should hang their heads in shame.

Q someone posting the blackadder court martial scene😝

If you insist 

 

[Mysterion]

3 hours ago, TypoonJambo said:

Stinks to high heaven. Surely someone should be held accountable for such a large loss of public money. The legal system, police,Lawers and judges should hang their heads in shame.

Q someone posting the blackadder court martial scene😝

 

Public Inquiry would be appropriate. 

Would create an accurate timeline of evidence.

[Shanks said no]

1 minute ago, Mysterion said:

 

Public Inquiry would be appropriate. 

Would create an accurate timeline of evidence.

essential that it is carried out by someone completely out with the Scottish Judiciary. 

[Spellczech]

2 minutes ago, Deke Thornton said:

Apparently there’s to be a public enquiry - a well travelled route to the long grass.

Look at the Holyrood Parliament Enquiry and the Edinburgh Trams Enquiry. More millions into the pockets of shysters and taking so long that by the time they report no one can remember what the issue was.

 

More money for lawyers...Talk about good money being spraffed after bad...

[TyphoonJambo]

35 minutes ago, The Frenchman Returns said:

If you insist 

 

Brilliant, still top comedy.

[Libertarian]

I can sense a fire sale coming down Ibroke way after Malmo humiliated them this evening. 

[Newton51]

 

[Unknown user]

6 hours ago, Newton51 said:

 

I always liked him as a player, I like him even more now

[Riccarton3]

9 hours ago, Newton51 said:

 

That is brilliant. 'MASSIVE home support..... 'Do you want to expand on that?' 😂

[Riccarton3]

It wouldn't surprise me if someone at Rangers have already looked into the Malmo  coach 's contract situation. Just a wee look

[gorgie rd eh11]

9 hours ago, Newton51 said:

 

 

 

 😄 You can feel the nervous fidgeting of the Scottish media. 

[Footballfirst]

And so it goes on. Preliminary hearing next Thursday.

 

 

[Mysterion]

4 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

And so it goes on. Preliminary hearing next Thursday.

 

Another reason why a public inquiry is needed. 

The police officers who instigated this whole thing should be sacked (if not already) and stripped of their pensions. 

 

The whole thing reeks of a revenge job by fans who couldn't separate their club from their actual duty.

[Riccarton3]

1 hour ago, Mysterion said:

 

Another reason why a public inquiry is needed. 

The police officers who instigated this whole thing should be sacked (if not already) and stripped of their pensions. 

 

The whole thing reeks of a revenge job by fans who couldn't separate their club from their actual duty.

Or a deliberately  botched job 

[Deevers]

1 hour ago, Mysterion said:

 

Another reason why a public inquiry is needed. 

The police officers who instigated this whole thing should be sacked (if not already) and stripped of their pensions. 

 

The whole thing reeks of a revenge job by fans who couldn't separate their club from their actual duty.

The Crown Office/PF would no doubt have had a “hands on” approach to this enquiry and would have been kept fully updated on developments. They were the ones who having looked at all aspects of this took the decision to prosecute various people. They have much to answer for in all of this. No doubt there will much dragging if heals by the Scottish  Government in getting this Public Enquiry up and started. Lots to hide methinks.

[Lone Striker]

1 hour ago, Mysterion said:

 

Another reason why a public inquiry is needed. 

The police officers who instigated this whole thing should be sacked (if not already) and stripped of their pensions. 

 

The whole thing reeks of a revenge job by fans who couldn't separate their club from their actual duty.

Unless the police falsified statements/evidence (or lied in court), then the focus of  possible blame shifts to the PF for bringing a prosecution based on something other than  the alleged breaking  of  laws.      

 

It's already one of the most costly legal cock-ups ever in Scotland, and is going to cost us taxpayers a lot more in the coming years.   It might even end up exceeding  the debt which caused Oldco's demise in the first place.  😲

 

 

[Mars plastic]

SNP shill Woolf going to get his erse well and truly felt, hopefully.

[Footballfirst]

2 hours ago, Mars plastic said:

SNP shill Woolf going to get his erse well and truly felt, hopefully.

It wasn't James Wolffe who was involved in the prosecutions as he wasn't Lord Advocate at the time.  It was Frank Mulholland who was LA.  

 

Mulholland is now Lord Mulholland, a judge.  Similarly the lead investigating officer DS Jim Robertson is now DCI Roberson.

 

I don't think Mulholland had much personal involvement (although he held ultimate responsibility). It was more likely to be Robertson, the Advocate Depute James Keegan and a couple of other senior figures in the Crown Office who drove the prosecutions forward.  Their personal allegiances to RFC and a desire to find someone to blame most likely clouded their judgement.

 

Each out of court settlement means that evidence of what actually happened is concealed from public scrutiny. At least James Wolffe promised a public inquiry.  When that happens will be down to the SG. 

 

There are also a couple of legal decisions awaited from Lord Tyre which may shed more light on the conduct of the prosecution services, primarily in the David Grier case.

 

 

[TyphoonJambo]

Excuse my ignorance FF but is there a direct connection between Robertson, Keegan and The Rangers? Apart from the obvious lodge ones.

Edited August 13, 2021 by TypoonJambo

[Footballfirst]

7 minutes ago, TypoonJambo said:

Excuse my ignorance FF but is there a direct connection between Robertson, Keegan and The Rangers? Apart from the obvious lodge ones.

They were RFC supporters. Robertson was even accused of singing the "Billy Boys" to intimidate a catholic employee of Duff & Phelps during an interview. 

[Deevers]

34 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

They were RFC supporters. Robertson was even accused of singing the "Billy Boys" to intimidate a catholic employee of Duff & Phelps during an interview. 

Lots to come out at any Enquiry - if one actually happens. I would not be surprised to see the  present administration trying to sweep thee whole thing under the carpet. I hope the opposition parties at Holyrood keep up the pressure to ensure one happens. The cost to the public purse by those involved in the flawed  pursuit looking for scapegoats has been staggering. Meanwhile someone slinks off with a penny in his pocket untouched.

[periodictabledancer]

6 hours ago, Mysterion said:

 

Another reason why a public inquiry is needed. 

The police officers who instigated this whole thing should be sacked (if not already) and stripped of their pensions. 

 

The whole thing reeks of a revenge job by fans who couldn't separate their club from their actual duty.

The police officers involved (the two main ones) were relatively junior in rank and had zero experience / training in financial crime. It was a disaster of an investigation and the "johnjames" blogger was bang on the money in forecasting the dropping of nearly all charges on Whyte and he fingered Keegan as being unfit for office. Lots to come out in the enquiry.

[Lone Striker]

1 hour ago, Footballfirst said:

They were RFC supporters. Robertson was even accused of singing the "Billy Boys" to intimidate a catholic employee of Duff & Phelps during an interview. 

While that may well be true, I'm not understanding the logic of why RFC supporting police & PF officials would  go above & beyond  to  bring a prosecution of everyone involved in the admin & liquidation of  their club - except the real culprits David Murray & other directors who  caused it, albeit it was Craig Whyte who pulled the trigger.     

 

The transactions & speculation about the Whyte/Green consortium interests  did seem  very  murky  though - but the football club survived with stadium, fans  & colours intact  (ok, a bit of debate about that !!!). 

 

Was it simply a  misguided desire for revenge against  dodgy businessmen by dodgy cops & prosecutors ?

 

 

[TyphoonJambo]

What's the chances that this will get as far as an inquiry? It'll disappear into the ether. 

[TyphoonJambo]

Just now, Lone Striker said:

While that may well be true, I'm not understanding the logic of why RFC supporting police & PF officials would  go above & beyond  to  bring a prosecution of everyone involved in the admin & liquidation of  their club - except the real culprits David Murray & other directors who  caused it, albeit it was Craig Whyte who pulled the trigger.     

 

The transactions & speculation about the Whyte/Green consortium interests  did seem  very  murky  though - but the football club survived with stadium, fans  ,history& colours intact  (ok, a bit of debate about that !!!). 

 

Was it simply a  misguided desire for revenge against  dodgy businessmen by dodgy cops & prosecutors ?

 

 

An important addition.

[Footballfirst]

6 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

Was it simply a  misguided desire for revenge against  dodgy businessmen by dodgy cops & prosecutors ?

 

That would be my take on it.  Blinded by the desire to hold someone responsible.

[Lone Striker]

11 minutes ago, TypoonJambo said:

An important addition.

Aahh yes  ....history......  the trophies, the banter, the songs, the bigotry.  🙄     😉

 

8 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

That would be my take on it.  Blinded by the desire to hold someone responsible.

Ironic that none of those prosecuted were ACTUALLY responsible for the demise of Oldco.   It could be argued that HMRC were responsible.    Imagine the stoooshie if the SNP Government's senior Law Officer had tried to prosecute them !!  

 

     

[schillaci]

Mulholland is Celtic through and through. What will see for him is that he was repeatedly told not to proceed.  In writing.

 

ITK info.

[Beni]

3 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

They were RFC supporters. Robertson was even accused of singing the "Billy Boys" to intimidate a catholic employee of Duff & Phelps during an interview. 

 

Might just have been an innocent mix up, because a popular opening refrain often used by policemen is 'ello 'ello...

[Niemi’s gloves]

6 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

It wasn't James Wolffe who was involved in the prosecutions as he wasn't Lord Advocate at the time.  It was Frank Mulholland who was LA.  

 

Mulholland is now Lord Mulholland, a judge.  Similarly the lead investigating officer DS Jim Robertson is now DCI Roberson.

 

I don't think Mulholland had much personal involvement (although he held ultimate responsibility). It was more likely to be Robertson, the Advocate Depute James Keegan and a couple of other senior figures in the Crown Office who drove the prosecutions forward.  Their personal allegiances to RFC and a desire to find someone to blame most likely clouded their judgement.

 

Each out of court settlement means that evidence of what actually happened is concealed from public scrutiny. At least James Wolffe promised a public inquiry.  When that happens will be down to the SG. 

 

There are also a couple of legal decisions awaited from Lord Tyre which may shed more light on the conduct of the prosecution services, primarily in the David Grier case.

 

 

Advocate Depute James Keegan a Rangers supporter? Bit surprised by that unless there are two James Keegans QC. 
Educated at Our Lady’s High School Motherwell and Rangers supporter don’t usually go together. 

[TyphoonJambo]

7 hours ago, Niemi’s gloves said:

Advocate Depute James Keegan a Rangers supporter? Bit surprised by that unless there are two James Keegans QC. 
Educated at Our Lady’s High School Motherwell and Rangers supporter don’t usually go together. 

Wasn't that the kind of assumption that led to Rangers supporting Kenny Dalglish not getting signed by them?

[buzzbomb1958]

Have they no died again yet?

[Footballfirst]

9 hours ago, Niemi’s gloves said:

Advocate Depute James Keegan a Rangers supporter? Bit surprised by that unless there are two James Keegans QC. 
Educated at Our Lady’s High School Motherwell and Rangers supporter don’t usually go together. 

Something sticks in my mind about him attending Ibrox, which could of course be purely coincidental. I don't generally check what schools people went to.

[John Findlay]

3 hours ago, TypoonJambo said:

Wasn't that the kind of assumption that led to Rangers supporting Kenny Dalglish not getting signed by them?

It was Danny Mcgrain. Rangers thought he was Catholic due to his middle name being Fergus.

[TyphoonJambo]

1 minute ago, John Findlay said:

It was Danny Mcgrain. Rangers thought he was Catholic due to his middle name being Fergus.

I stand corrected.  Small minded idiots.  Their loss.

[John Findlay]

4 minutes ago, TypoonJambo said:

I stand corrected.  Small minded idiots.  Their loss.

Rangers knew all about Dalglish, but Celtic got in first. Dalglish(according to his autobiography) was worried what his dad would think as they were a Rangers supporting family.

According to Dalglish his father told him sign for the best and at that time Celtic were the best, as they had just won the European Cup. The rest as they say is history.

[Niemi’s gloves]

1 hour ago, Footballfirst said:

Something sticks in my mind about him attending Ibrox, which could of course be purely coincidental. I don't generally check what schools people went to.

Fair enough, FF. In most contexts what schools people went to is largely irrelevant but he does choose to feature it in his Linked In profile and, on the face of it, it seems somewhat inconsistent with the idea that he is a rabid blue nose. 

[upgotheheads]

18 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

Aahh yes  ....history......  the trophies, the banter, the songs, the bigotry.  🙄     😉

 

Ironic that none of those prosecuted were ACTUALLY responsible for the demise of Oldco.   It could be argued that HMRC were responsible.    Imagine the stoooshie if the SNP Government's senior Law Officer had tried to prosecute them !!  

 

     

 

Surely the man who was responsible was Sir(!) David Murray. He handed the club to Craig Whyte without, apparently, doing the due diligence, and yet he has escaped without any criticism.