The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised the prosecution of former GVC (now Entain) CEO Kenny Alexander over bribery allegations related to the firm’s historical business in Turkey.
The CPS confirmed Alexander, who ran the operator between 2007 and 2020, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to bribe between 2011 and 2018.
Entain entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the CPS and HMRC in 2023 over a probe into historic allegations of bribery relating to its Turkey-facing business.
The DPA saw Entain agree a £585m settlement after an investigation concerned the activities of former third-party suppliers and ex-Entain employees under section 7 of the 2010 UK Bribery Act.
Entain sold the Turkey-facing business in 2017.
Alongside Alexander, the CPS has also charged former Entain chair Lee Feldman and the operator’s ex-governance chief Robert Hoskin.
Feldman faces the same charges as Alexander. Hoskins is charged with perverting the course of justice in February 2024.
The trio were among 11 individuals to have been charged by the CPS.
Richard Cooper, the former group finance director, and James Humberstone, ex-group director of trading, face the same charges as Alexander and Feldman.
Robert Dowling, Alexander MacAngus, Scott Masterton, Caroline Roe, Raymond Smart and Richard Raubitschek-Smith have also been charged with a variety of offences.
The first hearing of the case will be held at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 6 October.
A CPS statement read: “Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.”
Hannah von Dadelszen, the CPS’ chief crown prosecutor, 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.
“These offences relate to the provision of gambling services in Turkey between 2011 and 2018.
“Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers of HM Revenue and Customs who have carried out the investigation.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
An Entain spokesperson said: “Entain notes the third-party charging decisions announced by the UK Crown Prosecution Service today. The company has not been charged and none of the individuals charged are currently employed by the company or its group.
“The company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the CPS in December 2023 which, subject to continued compliance with its terms, resolved the HM Revenue & Customs investigation insofar as it concerned the company and its group.
“The company has no further comment to make in respect of these matters, which are the subject of on-going criminal proceedings and reporting restrictions.”
The post CPS charges Kenny Alexander and former GVC execs over Turkish bribery allegations first appeared on EGR Intel.
Crown Prosecution Service authorises a variety of charges against 11 individuals, including the operator’s former CEO, chair and chief governance officer
The post CPS charges Kenny Alexander and former GVC execs over Turkish bribery allegations first appeared on EGR Intel.