Latest: Green, Whyte, Whitehouse and Clark all charged with serious offences

[Frankie 8,825]

This thread will be updated with the latest news on the above story - unfortunately, due to legal constraints, the thread will remain locked to other contributors.

 

Latest: 01/09/15: 20:25

 

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1327848-ex-rangers-chief-executive-charles-green-detained-in-police-custody/

 

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green and ex-owner Craig Whyte have been arrested by police investigating an alleged fraudulent purchase of the Ibrox club.

 

Mr Green, 62, was at Livingston Police Station on Tuesday after arriving back in the country on Monday.

 

He was interviewed by officers from Police Scotland before being arrested.

 

Later on Tuesday Mr Whyte, 44, was driven in to Helen Street police station in Glasgow where he was questioned by police and arrested.

 

David Whitehouse, 50, has also been arrested by police. He worked with Duff & Phelps when Rangers went into administration into 2012 and served as a co-administrator of the club.

 

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed a 62-year-old man and a 50-year-old man had been arrested.

 

She said: "Police Scotland can confirm a 62-year-old man has been arrested and is presently detained in police custody in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Rangers FC in 2012."

 

It was later confirmed that a 44-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation.

 

Whitehouse was arrested after officers from Police Scotland and Cheshire carried out an operation in England.

 

The businessman took charge of Rangers in 2012 after it entered liquidation and stood down in 2013. It is understood Green was questioned by officers in relation to his time at Ibrox.

 

A police statement said: "Following a Police Scotland operation on Tuesday, a 50-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Rangers FC in 2012.

 

"Around 6am officers from Police Scotland’s Economic Crime Unit, assisted by officers from Cheshire, attended at an address in England and detained the 50-year-old man.

 

"He has now been arrested and is presently detained in police custody. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

 

All three men are expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

 

In January this year Green revealed he had spoken to police three times over former owner Mr Whyte's alleged fraudulent purchase of Rangers.

[Frankie 8,825]

Further news this morning from the Daily Record:

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/former-rangers-chief-executive-charles-6365265

 

It’s understood BBC journalist Mark Daly – who made a documentary into financial goings-on at Rangers and is being sued with the Corporation by individuals featured – was also questioned by police as a witness.

[Frankie 8,825]

Update:

 

Daily Record now suggesting on social media that Paul Clark has now also detained

[Frankie 8,825]

From STV journalist on Twitter:

 

Matthew Coyle ‏@Mattycoyle

 

Charles Green and David Whitehouse have appeared in court over Rangers fraud probe. Craig Whyte's lawyer says he will appear later today

[Frankie 8,825]

Also from STV Journalist:

 

Grant Russell ‏@STVGrant 7m7 minutes ago

 

Former Rangers chief Charles Green has been granted bail at Glasgow Sheriff Court in connection with alleged fraudulent acquisition in 2012.

[Frankie 8,825]

Very angry scenes as Charles Green leaves court...

 

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aLb-9jIyNzgzNDV8MXJteFBhUVlNRGJLTv1Zl_JUF_CW65UimcPQxN6534LSlCqejtRM0N4iegps

[Zappa 0]

Ex-Rangers chiefs Craig Whyte and Charles Green charged after court appearances

Rebecca Gray, Wednesday 2 September 2015

 

Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte and ex-chief executive Charles Green have been charged with serious organised crime offences in relation to the acquisition of the club in 2012.

 

Motherwell-born Mr Whyte, 44, has been charged under Section 28 of the Criminal Justice Licensing Act 2010 which covers serious organised crime offences. He also faced a charge of conspiracy.

 

Mr Green, 62, has been dealt the same charges as well as fraud and an offence under Section 190 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

The pair were joined in the court by David Whitehouse, who was the club's co-administrator in 2012. He has been charged with conspiracy and serious organised crime offences.

 

All three men made no plea or declaration and were granted bail

 

Fans shouted at Green as he walked out the main door of the court, accompanied by around a dozen police officers.

 

He looked shocked and refused to say anything as he was escorted to a waiting car.

 

Administrator David Whitehouse emerged around 20 minutes later to similar scenes. He was surrounded by personal security guards as angry supporters shouted abuse at the businessman.

 

Whyte emerged from the court building and was met by scores of furious Rangers fans. They hurled abuse at the former Light Blues owner as he fought his way through the crowds to a car. Like Green and Whitehouse, Whyte was surrounded by police officers.

 

Whyte took control of the Ibrox club in May 2011 but it went into administration in February the following year.

 

Green, a former chief executive of Sheffield United, took control at the Ibrox club in 2012 after completing a purchase of Rangers’ assets after it went into administration.

 

Whitehouse, of Duff and Phelps, ran the club's administration in 2012.

 

Green stepped down as chief executive in 2013.

 

Police confirmed three men were arrested yesterday in connection with "an ongoing investigation into an alleged fraudulent acquisition of Rangers FC in 2012."

 

A Police Scotland spokeswoman added: "A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

 

Whitehouse, who worked for administrators Duff and Phelps, arrived at Rangers after Whyte put the club into administration.

 

Meanwhile, Green led the consortium who bought the Ibrox club from the administrators.

 

Whitehouse was arrested early yesterday in Cheshire by Police Scotland anti-fraud officers.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13639614.Ex_Rangers_chiefs_Craig_Whyte_and_Charles_Green_charged_after_court_appearances/

Edited September 2, 2015 by Zappa

[Frankie 8,825]

Further info in Paul Clark this morning:

 

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1327979-paul-clark-charged-with-serious-organised-crime-over-rangers-probe/

 

Rangers oldco administrator Paul Clark has appeared in court charged with serious organised crime in relation to the 2012 purchase of the Ibrox club.

 

Clark, 51, who worked for Duff and Phelps and was Rangers co-administrator, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

 

He was charged with conspiracy and serious organised crime in connection with the police investigation into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Rangers in 2012.

 

Clark was in court a day after former chief executive Charles Green, 62, and ex-owner Craig Whyte, 44, appeared in the dock also charged with serious organised crime and conspiracy as part of the same investigation.

 

David Whitehouse, 50, who worked with Clark at Duff and Phelps and was Rangers administrator, also appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday. He was also charged with conspiracy as well as being involved in serious organised crime.

 

Clark was arrested on Wednesday and detained in custody by Police Scotland ahead of his appearance. He made no plea or declaration during his short hearing and was granted bail.

 

Green, Whyte and Whitehouse all appeared separately in private on Wednesday and were granted bail. All left court escorted by by police amid chaotic scenes.

 

Green appeared on four charges; one under the Companies Act, one related to involvement in serious organised crime and the other a conspiracy and fraud charge.

 

Whyte and Whitehouse were also both charged with conspiracy and involvement in serious organised crime. All three men made no plea or declaration.

 

The former chief executive took charge of Rangers in 2012 after they failed to reach an agreement with creditors while in administration.

 

He bought the assets of the club, which was then liquidated, and formed a new company, launching a successful share issue. He then stood down in 2013.

 

He was arrested on Tuesday after attending Livingston Police Station for questioning and was detained in custody.

 

Whyte was also arrested after attending a police station in Glasgow while Whitehouse was held after officers from Police Scotland and Cheshire carried out an operation in England.

[pete 2,511]

Crown asks for extension to present case over alleged Rangers fraud

 

 

The Crown Office has asked for an extension to the date when an indictment must be served on those charged in connection with the alleged fraudulent purchase of Rangers in 2011.

 

Prosecutors currently have until September 17 to present their case against the club's former owner Craig Whyte, joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, ex-club secretary Gary Withey and David Grier.

 

All were charged in November 2014 accused of being involved in a fraudulent scheme when Whyte bought Rangers from Sir David Murray for £1 in 2011.

 

At court proceedings in Glasgow on Thursday, the Crown requested a extension to their deadline.

 

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1328019-crown-asks-for-extension-to-present-case-over-alleged-rangers-fraud/

Edited September 4, 2015 by pete

[Frankie 8,825]

Various media:

 

US cops hunting Ahmad and Stockbridge.

 

http://t.co/FwTKmIjZjY

 

TWO former Rangers directors were being hunted by US police last night as part of the huge probe into the alleged fraudulent takeover of the club in 2012.

 

Ex-finance director Brian Stockbridge is in the US but officers have so far been unable to find him, the Record has learned.

 

They are also trying to trace Imran Ahmad – Rangers’ former commercial director.

 

Both are wanted for questioning in the probe into the takeover by ex- chief executive Charles Green, 62.

 

Police sources have confirmed they are searching for Stockbridge and Ahmad, who were part of Green’s Ibrox regime.

 

Yesterday, police said: “Inquiries are ongoing.”