Kenny Alexander trial for conspiracy to bribe and defraud charges set for February 2028

A trial date for leading owner Kenny Alexander, the former chief executive of the company now known as Entain, over charges related to bribery and fraud linked to gambling services in Turkey has been set for February 2028.

Alexander and senior figures at the gambling group then called GVC Holdings, including former chairman Lee Feldman, have been charged with conspiracy to bribe and conspiracy to defraud.

Alexander appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning for plea and trial preparation, when the judge deferred arraignment until a later date.

In all, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the prosecution of 11 individuals for seven offences relating to bribery, conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent trading, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax, acting as a director of a company when undischarged bankrupt and perverting the course of justice.

The offences relate to the provision of gambling services in Turkey between 2011 and 2018.

The case has been split into three trials with the one involving Alexander and a group of other defendants set to take place first, with four months set aside for it to be heard. Trials involving other defendants have been set for later in 2028 and 2029.

Alexander was chief executive of GVC between 2007 and 2020 during which time the company completed the £4 billion acquisition of Ladbrokes Coral in 2017.

When news of the charges broke in August, Entain issued a statement saying that it had not been charged and that none of the individuals charged was currently employed by the company or its group.

Alexander's blue and white colours have been carried by dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle as well as this year's Cheltenham Festival winners Doddiethegreat and Kargese. Most recently, his Echoing Silence won a maiden hurdle at Cork on Sunday.

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Leading owner Kenny Alexander appears in court over conspiracy to bribe and defraud charges 

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