Duff&Phelps MD charged with conspiracy
DAVID Whitehouse, a managing director at insolvency firm Duff&Phelps’ Manchester office, has been charged with conspiracy and involvement in serious organised crime.
Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte and ex-chief executive Charles Green also face the same charges under Section 28 of the Criminal Justice Licensing Act 2010, while Green is also accused of fraud and also an offence under Section 190 of the Companies Act 2006.
They made no plea or declaration and all three were granted bail to return to court at a later date, following their appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday afternoon.
Whitehouse was detained by officers at his Cheshire home early on Tuesday morning, following an investigation into the alleged fraudulent takeover of Scottish football club Rangers by Whyte in 2011.
Police in Scotland have been investigating the sale of Rangers from Sir David Murray to businessman Craig Whyte for more than 18 months.
Rangers went into administration in February 2012 less than a year after the acquisition by Whyte from long-standing owner The Murray Group. The club was later sold to a consortium led by Yorkshire businessman Charles Green in June 2012. It was subsequently floated on the AIM market.
Whitehouse was previously arrested and charged in November.
At the time Marty Dauer, a spokesperson for Duff&Phelps, said: “This work was commenced while these employees were part of MCR Partners, prior to its acquisition by Duff&Phelps in October of 2011.
“Duff&Phelps has performed an internal investigation and commissioned an independent investigation of the related matters. As a result, we believe that our work for Rangers was conscientious, thorough, and properly performed in every respect.
“Duff&Phelps has actively cooperated with all relevant investigating authorities throughout this process. In addition, we have provided thorough reports on our role in the administration of Rangers Football Club to the Court of Session and the Insolvency Practitioners’ Association.
“Notably, the liquidator’s amended pleadings in English High Court proceedings commenced on April 8, 2011 validate the conclusions of our internal investigation and the independent investigation we commissioned. In addition, our assignments in this matter were comprehensively examined by the Insolvency Practitioners Association (“IPA”), in 2013. The IPA’s review cleared the firm of any wrongdoing or conflict of interest, affirming the position of the firm.”
