Leading owner Kenny Alexander charged with conspiracy to bribe and defraud

Leading owner Kenny Alexander is one of 11 individuals charged with offences including bribery and conspiracy to defraud, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Thursday.

The offences relate to the provision of gambling services in Turkey between 2011 and 2018. Alexander was chief executive of GVC Holdings, which became parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, until his departure in 2020. The company subsequently changed its name to Entain.

Alexander has been charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe between 2011 and 2018, as has former GVC chairman Lee Feldman.

Hannah von Dadelszen, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, said: "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."

Alexander with his star mare Honeysuckle after she had won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

She added: "Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers of HM Revenue and Customs [HMRC] who have carried out the investigation.

Richard Las, Director of HMRC’s fraud investigation service, said: “This has been a complex and international investigation. These are serious charges that relate to conspiracy to defraud, bribery, cheating the public revenue, evasion of income tax and perverting the course of justice among others.

"We remind everyone that proceedings are now active and we won’t be adding anything further."

The first hearing in the case will be heard on October 6 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

In a statement, Entain said that it had not been charged and that none of the individuals charged are currently employed by the company or its group.

Entain added: "The company has no further comment to make in respect of these matters, which are the subject of ongoing criminal proceedings and reporting restrictions."

Alexander's blue and white colours have been carried by dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle, while he enjoyed two successes at this year's Cheltenham Festival through Doddiethegreat in the Pertemps Network Final and Kargese in the County Hurdle.

The CPS said it has also charged Richard Cooper, Robert Dowling, James Humberstone, Alexander MacAngus, Scott Masterton, Caroline Roe, Raymond Smart, Richard Raubitschek-Smith and Robert Hoskin.

Read more:

'I’d almost forgotten I’d even bred him' - Doddiethegreat a Cheltenham first for Kenny Alexander 

'I'd had a few beers and before I knew it we were trying to buy Honeysuckle'

Kia Joorabchian reveals billion-dollar investment fund is major investor in Amo Racing 

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