Chimbonda arrested

[Boca]

This could be the beginning of something very interesting. No surprise at his agents name either

 

 

Chimbonda arrested as part of police corruption investigation

 

By Jason Burt

 

Published: 13 September 2007

Police have arrested the Tottenham Hotspur defender Pascal Chimbonda as part of a widespread investigation into corruption in football.

 

The 28-year-old is the second man to be detained by detectives and is facing the prospect of fraud charges. He has been released on bail until next month after being arrested on Monday for alleged conspiracy to defraud. It appears the arrest is linked to the earlier detention in May of a 61-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of money laundering.

 

The City of London Police, whose Economic Crime Department (ECD) handles cases of fraud, have confirmed that a 28-year-old man was arrested, although they refused to confirm his identity or whether he is a Premier League footballer.

 

The police have been investigating suspected tax fraud and money laundering – which covers such matters as tax evasion or taking a back-hander in a deal – in relation to player transfers.

 

The inquiry is thought to focus on two deals in particular: Amdy Faye's £2m move from Portsmouth to Newcastle United and Jean-Alain Boumsong's transfer from Rangers to Newcastle for £8.2m. Both took place in January 2005. Faye and Boumsong are both represented by the agent Willie McKay, the man who is believed to be at the centre of the investigation, although he has vehemently denied any wrong-doing whatsoever. McKay has also acted for Chimbonda.

 

On 16 July detectives raided Newcastle's St James' Park ground and took away several computers as evidence. They also raided Rangers and Portsmouth taking away more documentation.

 

The investigations are separate to the work that was undertaken by Lord Stevens in his so-called "bungs inquiry", which spent 16 months examining 362 Premier League transfers between January 2004 and January 2006. Stevens said he was unable to sign off 17 of the deals.

 

The findings of his Quest investigators were handed over to the City of London police, but the two inquiries are still not directly linked, even if the transfers of Faye and Boumsong were among those that Stevens felt unable to clear.

 

Chimbonda was signed by Spurs in August last year for £4.5m from Wigan Athletic. He joined Wigan the previous summer for just £500,000 from the French club Bastia and had an outstanding debut season, making France's World Cup squad. His departure from Wigan became acrimonious after he handed in a transfer request on the final day of the season. There is no suggestion of any wrong-doing by Wigan or Spurs.

 

Link

[Extraordinary Swindle]

It appears the arrest is linked to the earlier detention in May of a 61-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of money laundering.

SAF been lying about his age again!

[cymrococh]

I imagine my mental image of Willie McKay is pretty far from the reality.

[Kahnee]

Who's named him? Police spokesman declined to name anyone when this broke last night

[Stevie H]

I imagine my mental image of Willie McKay is pretty far from the reality.

what do you picture him like? 'cos i've seen photos of him.

[floyd]

Exhibit A

 

Cancer of football.