A time for answers

[D'Artagnan 173]

There was an interesting footnote to the Daily Record’s coverage of Ed Miliband’s attack on Mike Ashley over the latter’s penchant for zero hour contracts; commenting on the recent flurry of Police activity regarding the acquisition of Rangers by Craig Whyte, it read :

“The warrant was issued on the day four men – David Grier, Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, who worked for Rangers administrators Duff & Phelps, and Gary Withey, who represented Whyte – were all detained by police in England acting on behalf of Police Scotland. They are due to appear in court tomorrow.

 

Police Scotland, who are leading a joint operation with HMRC, said “inquires are ongoing” in to the whereabouts of Whyte.”

 

What makes that footnote particularly interesting is that Police Scotland’s Specialist Economic Crime Unit are once again working jointly with HMRC. Some will remember that until recently the former were investigating the latter with regard to leaks of confidential information in the Rangers Tax Case although “they found no evidence that the leaks came from within HMRC”. Perhaps it’s unavoidable given the scope of the enquiry and the limitations on resources but does it not strike anyone else as peculiar that we now have a former suspect at the forefront of an investigation into our club?

 

An agency which itself has been open to considerable criticism over their handling of the whole sorry mess, with serious questions being asked about their professional competency. We don’t need to do “conspiracy theories” when it comes to HMRC – the facts themselves suggest that there are considerable grounds for a government enquiry into their handling of the matter. The latest criminal developments only serve to add fuel to an already highly flammable topic.

 

This after all is the same government agency whom:-

 

1. As per Keith Jackson’s Daily record expose` allowed Craig Whyte, a man they were already pursuing for tax related matters to the tune of £4 million, to assume control of a company and then fail to contribute PAYE for a period of 9 months and as a consequence forced the company into administration.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-rangers-owner-craig-whyte-being-3992415

 

2. Treated complaints from Rangers shareholders regarding breaches of confidentiality in the Rangers Tax Case as “speculation about alleged breaches of confidentiality” whilst the platforms for the foregoing breaches, The Rangers Tax Case Blog and the BBC Scotland documentary – “The Men Who Sold The Jerseys” were picking up various awards courtesy of the confidential information they had broadcast.

 

3. Despite the investigation aforementioned by Police Scotland, have failed to explain how evidence in the Rangers Tax case, of which they were custodians, ended up in the hands of BBC Scotland. The remarks and summation by Lord Nimmo Smith in his SPL Commission Report have not been forgotten by the Rangers support, nor will the matter be allowed to rest until a sufficient explanation is provided as to how or who was responsible for such leaks.

 

The Rangers support will welcome the latest flexing of the long arm of the law, not only from the sense of seeing some modicum of justice, but also a means of providing answers, long overdue answers to some of the questions this particularly dark period has caused.

 

I doubt all will welcome such developments.

 

The latest actions by the law enforcement agencies confirm what many of us have suspected for a considerable time – that our club has been used as the vehicle for a fairly elaborate and complex fraudulent scheme and in every sense is itself the victim of the perpetrators. It will be interesting to see whether there is a determination within our club to seek recompense, financial or otherwise, in respect of those who sought to punish the crime’s victim.

 

The tale which will unfold if only half the story however. The decision making process at HMRC and their conduct into the investigation of our club is the untold story.

 

The latter is a story which needs to be told and only a full public enquiry will suffice.

[Frankie 8,562]

Missed this yesterday.

 

Well written D'Art and there's no doubt there needs to be as wide-ranging and all-encompassing investigation into the whole sorry mess. As requested many times on here, there should be a public enquiry into the actions of all involved.

[Zappa 0]

3. Despite the investigation aforementioned by Police Scotland' date=' have failed to explain how evidence in the Rangers Tax case, of which they were custodians, ended up in the hands of BBC Scotland. The remarks and summation by Lord Nimmo Smith in his SPL Commission Report have not been forgotten by the Rangers support, nor will the matter be allowed to rest until a sufficient explanation is provided as to how or who was responsible for such leaks.[/quote']

 

The possible options in terms of the true source of leaks are quite wide-ranging.

 

They may well have come from within HMRC, but they could also have come from a Solicitor's or QC's office.

 

They could also have come from a staff member within Ibrox or an ex-Rangers staff member.

 

I can't imagine any possible way to find out other than the staff involved at BBC Scotland being forced (legally) to reveal the source, but what's to stop them just claiming documents and detailed information was sent to them anonymously?

[D'Artagnan 173]

The possible options in terms of the true source of leaks are quite wide-ranging.

 

They may well have come from within HMRC, but they could also have come from a Solicitor's or QC's office.

 

They could also have come from a staff member within Ibrox or an ex-Rangers staff member.

 

I can't imagine any possible way to find out other than the staff involved at BBC Scotland being forced (legally) to reveal the source, but what's to stop them just claiming documents and detailed information was sent to them anonymously?

 

LNS referred to them as "productions" in the Rangers Tax Case - which meant they were catalogued & lodged evidence items before the tax tribunal.

[Zappa 0]

LNS referred to them as "productions" in the Rangers Tax Case - which meant they were catalogued & lodged evidence items before the tax tribunal.

 

That's right, I remember you previously writing about the term "productions" and it's meaning in this case.

 

So that would basically narrow it down to the leak coming from within HMRC or within a legal office?

[RANGERRAB 3,653]

That's right, I remember you previously writing about the term "productions" and it's meaning in this case.

 

So that would basically narrow it down to the leak coming from within HMRC or within a legal office?

 

A well known Glasgow legal firm springs to mind............

[D'Artagnan 173]

That's right, I remember you previously writing about the term "productions" and it's meaning in this case.

 

So that would basically narrow it down to the leak coming from within HMRC or within a legal office?

 

A well known Glasgow legal firm springs to mind............

 

I dont think the latter is possible Rab - as soon as LNS refers to them as "productions" he is referring to items seized and lodged as evidence by the prosecuting authority. (Remember we are only talking about the leaks made available to BBC Scotland not The Rangers Tax case)

 

Thats about in a nutshelll Zap - they appear to have at some point been removed from a secure area storing evidence - presumably whilst in the custody and care of HMRC.

 

Some have suggested they could have been leaked by the Rangers legal defence team - but they would only be supplied with photo copies of the original documents and Im pretty certain LNS would have made the distinction between "productions" and "photocopies of productions" had that been the case.

[RANGERRAB 3,653]

I dont think the latter is possible Rab - as soon as LNS refers to them as "productions" he is referring to items seized and lodged as evidence by the prosecuting authority. (Remember we are only talking about the leaks made available to BBC Scotland not The Rangers Tax case)

 

Thats about in a nutshelll Zap - they appear to have at some point been removed from a secure area storing evidence - presumably whilst in the custody and care of HMRC.

 

Some have suggested they could have been leaked by the Rangers legal defence team - but they would only be supplied with photo copies of the original documents and Im pretty certain LNS would have made the distinction between "productions" and "photocopies of productions" had that been the case.

 

I wouldn't rule anything out D'art regards these leaks.

Remember our chum Fullerton who worked for LBG ?

Didn't he leave and then get a job with Harper McLeod who were investigating the SPL dual contracts nonsense?

Far be it from me to suggest anything of course

[JTP 0]

Why did the investigation not arrive at Mark Daly's door asking him how he became holder of such evidence?

 

If a drug dealer drops a kilo of white powder on my hands and then runs away, the police wouldn't leave me alone to search in vain for the runaway man ........ I'd be interrogated and taken to court to find out who he was.

 

Why has the BBC not been interrogated?

[D'Artagnan 173]

Why did the investigation not arrive at Mark Daly's door asking him how he became holder of such evidence?

 

If a drug dealer drops a kilo of white powder on my hands and then runs away, the police wouldn't leave me alone to search in vain for the runaway man ........ I'd be interrogated and taken to court to find out who he was.

 

Why has the BBC not been interrogated?

 

Apparently it did JTP with the tried & tested "whistleblowing" excuse being exercised by BBC Scotland.

 

If Police Scotland had been doing their job properly they would have told the BBC that "whistleblowing" cannot be offered as justification in circumstances where legal proceedings have already been instigated - which of course it was in the Rangers Tax Case.