There are three for each of the 32 wards. Test yourself with these 12 questions, Do you know your local leaders from your Manchester suburbs? VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Judge Grainger ruled today that Elliot, Harris and Roberts had all knowingly participated in the scheme. Football Leaks claims Euro Super League talks held by clubs, Man City: Uefa 'deceived' over FFP regulations, claims Der Spiegel, Man City and Paris St-Germain 'are cheating and should be punished', We have known since 2014, when City reluctantly accepted a settlement with Uefa that. Councilman David Mann's "Commission to Clean Up City Council" might not get at the core of the corruption crisis at City Hall. Instead of an anti-Tory backlash, the drama has reprised memories of Liverpools political pariah status in the mid-1980s when Hattons Militant-led council plunged the city into near-bankruptcy. Former Councilmen Jose Huizar and Mark Ridley-Thomas face criminal charges for racketeering and bribery, respectively. Terry Burke, Manchester town halls head of corporate technical services, was suspended on full pay in August 2012. Corporate Core - Manchester City Council The people arrested were mostly members of a long-established Muslim social organisation, al-Islah, who say they are not fundamentalist but do openly take issue with elements of the country's rule. Beth Abbit, editor of the M.E.N's Mancunian Way newsletter, puts readers to the test, Tragedy as woman, 31, dies on way home from work as nightclub shot girl, Kelsey Stuttard, from Cheadle, suffered catastrophic injuries in the 3am smash, 'Hold my hands up' - Graeme Souness admits he got it wrong about Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez, The Argentinian was picked apart following defeat at Brentford but has since been a revelation in red, 'I witnessed my first murder aged 11 and I was stabbed and left for dead - now I fight gang culture', Mark, from Moss Side, became a victim himself after leaving prison for armed robbery. Bev Craig elected first female leader of Manchester City Council Following the probe Mr Burke, of Portside Close, in Worsley , whose job involved construction procurement, has now been sacked. Sheikh Zayed, who died in 2004, was widely revered as a visionary, planning Abu Dhabi's super-fast development after the oil riches transformed the country from the 1960s, while retaining traditional Sunni Muslim values. In July two lawyers who had defended Ahmed Mansoor in the "UAE 5" trial, Dr Mohamed al-Mansoori and Dr Mohamed al-Roken, were arrested. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. That their club is being used as a form of 'soft-power', to improve the image of a repressive regime in the United Arab Emirates that continues to be accused of human rights abuses. Amnesty and HRW said "local activists believe a forced confession from Suweidi forms the basis of the prosecution's case in the trial". Whereas Manchester became the world's first industrial city in the 1800s, Abu Dhabi did not have a paved road until 1961, when its deep reserves of oil began to be exploited. I must admit - Nicky Butt concedes he was wrong about Manchester United hero Casemiro. He pointed to "gradual" reforms including "limited" elections of the Federal National Council, a consultative body, of which half the members are selected by the regime, half elected by a minority of the Emirati population. Since then, Sir Richard has also been involved in the response to the coronavirus pandemic and was a critic of the government's handling of regional lockdowns last autumn. No other individuals at Manchester council are thought to be under suspicion and nobody else has been brought in for questioning, it is understood. The investigation escalated in December with the arrest of Joe Anderson, the councils figurehead for 12 years, alongside four other men including Derek Hatton, the 72-year-old leftwing firebrand who ran Liverpool three decades ago. The BBC has not been able to verify the leaked emails published by Der Spiegel, and City have refused to comment, beyond saying that the documents are "purportedly hacked or stolen" and an "organised attempt" to smear the club. Manchester City Council is facing a 153m budget shortfall over the next three years, councillors have heard. The clean-up operation began when, shortly after joining the council in 2018, Reeves received two formal complaints and ordered an internal investigation. "The UAE judicial system ensures that the rule of law prevails and that no person is above the law," the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. On 2 July, at the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi, 69 of the 94 were found guilty of plotting to overthrow the regime. The corporation was previously called the Manchester Parish Council. The prime minister himself has been persona non grata in Liverpool since it was cast as a self-pitying city in a Spectator article in 2004, when he edited the magazine. Uefa is now under mounting pressure to act again and demonstrate that such apparent disregard for its rules cannot be tolerated. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This is being done in line with the councils standard procedures. New heat on Man City in cash cheat probe as Football Leaks hacker set Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, tweeted that he was "the giant of local government and local leadership". They have grown accustomed to the suggestion that owner Sheikh Mansour's spending spree over the past 10 years has devalued their on-field achievements and enabled them to buy success. t was a devastating indictment of one of Britains most powerful councils: a rotten culture of dubious contracts and backroom bullying, where staff were silenced and official records dumped in skips. I must admit - Nicky Butt concedes he was wrong about Manchester United hero Casemiro. "There is insufficient evidence that a multiparty system works in the Arab world," Gargashsaid. A team of Whitehall commissioners has been sent to oversee large parts of the dysfunctional council for at least three years an unprecedented step for a city its size while Labour has ordered an investigation into what went wrong. One of the most persistent, Ahmed Mansoor, was kept in jail for eight months before being sentenced to three years in prison for criticising the regime. Manchester Fraud Trial | Former municipal officials found guilty, mom Test yourself with these 12 questions, Do you know your local leaders from your Manchester suburbs? One News Page. No one else employed by the council is currently believed to be involved. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It is also aware of the hypocrisy that exists in football, mindful of the fact that Real Madrid was, one of seven Spanish clubs ordered to repay tens of millions of euros of state aid. into City's finances, threatening to lodge a complaint with the EU competition authorities. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? As reported in the M.E.N. Video, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Nelson's 97th-minute stunner gives Arsenal victory, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78. Now I finally have relief from endometriosis', Police searching for wanted teen over a 'serious assault', Heywood: Man wanted on suspicion of violent crimes, Water company issues update after pipe bursts in Bolton, Relaunch of Sing! The city has improved since the 80s but were slipping back. Something went wrong, please try again later. The investigation centres on whether or not Mr Burke, from Worsley, Salford, profited from deals done by the council. Man United were heavily linked with a move for Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo prior to his move to Liverpool in January. In huge whiteletters on a sky blue background, it says: "MANCHESTER THANKS YOU, SHEIKH MANSOUR. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Whistleblowing - Manchester City Council Entire City Council resigns in protest of Colorado corruption - KRDO Both Amnesty and HRW say none of that has happened. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. For a city that remains fiercely anti-Tory, there was barely a ripple of opposition to the intervention by Boris Johnsons government. You side with the Tories, youve slept with the devil. But internal critics began to find more of a voice two years ago, against a background of the Arab spring, conservative Muslim campaigns and democracy movements in other countries, allied to widespread use of the internet. We along with others, have made clear our concerns about allegations of torture and mistreatment, and some aspects of the way the trial was conducted, such as lack of access to international observers, accusations that defendants could not access their lawyers, and the length of the sentencing.". (two-thirds of which was suspended and avoided) along with restrictions on their European squad and incoming transfers, that the club were found to have breached the FFP rules. Council chief executive Joanne Roney described him as "a towering figure". This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. A club transformed by lavish investment in part to promote the emirate of Abu Dhabi on the world stage is damaged by deceptions in the. Mansour is the Abu Dhabi deputy prime minister, responsible for the country's judges, and sits on the board of key investment funds. America's second-largest city was already mired in scandal and chaos. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "He has had one of the biggest impacts that any politician I can think of has made. The fifth guilty verdict was handed down in relation to Elliots wife, Tasha-Gaye. The 48-year-old outlined he had concerns upon Casemiro's arrival but the Man United ace has since quelled his fears. Immediately after his sentence Mansoor, along with the other petitioners, received a presidential pardon. Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you wont receive a reply. Its heartbreaking to see what they did with that opportunity.. That is why the NIA boss is calling for other corruption cases like the Petrojam matter, to be brought swiftly before the courts. And secondly, that City under a scheme called Project Longbow set up a shell company to pay players for image rights, saving millions more from the wage bill. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He was also found guilty of two other counts. An internal auditing process carried out by the council then picked up irregularities. Whistleblowing - Manchester City Council Whistleblowing This form has a maximum of 4 pages Use this form to report any serious concerns you have about malpractice or wrongdoing in the. In 2022, Tauna copped the Press Association of Jamaica 2021 Opinion Journalist of the Year award. Mubarak is the chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, a strategic government body responsible for advising on Abu Dhabi's international image. Elliots mother, Myrtle and a former bank teller, Radcliffe McLean are the other two defendants whove been set free. The Abu Dhabi cash and Mubarak's and his other executives' business expertise are transforming not only Manchester City but the stadium that was built with 127m lottery and local council money for the 2002 Commonwealth Games as a means of regenerating east Manchester. Former Councilman Mitchell Englander, who represented the West Valley, went to prison for obstructing a corruption probe. over financial fair play (FFP) rules to detract from pride in their club. HRW made specific reference to Manchester City, arguing that ownership of the Premier League club is enabling Abu Dhabi to "construct a public relations image of a progressive, dynamic Gulf state, which deflects attention from what is really going on in the country". These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The seven accused were before the courts answering to 25 counts in total. 2:16. What is certain is that this story has once again highlighted the challenge that 'the authorities' - regulators like Uefa - face when dealing with their clubs. Ann Marie Grainger, Parish Judge, speaking today while delivering the verdict via live audio stream. Everybody will be lifted up if we all aim for equality: Hundreds line the streets in the city centre for Manchester's annual Walk for Women, The march is one of many taking place across the UK for International Women's Day, Emotional scenes at Etihad as Man City fans and Phil Foden pay tribute to tragic Milly-Rose, 6, who died suddenly, The emotional display happened during the sixth minute of Manchester City vs Newcastle, 'We ditched our corporate jobs for life on a narrowboat with our baby - we've never been happier', Despite earning a sixth of their previous income, Joanna and Victor Gould are loving the slower pace of life, We took Jay Rayner for lunch at one his favourite Manchester restaurants - heres what he had to say about the citys food, We sat down for lunch with the acclaimed food critic ahead of his show 'Jazz Up the 80s with the Jay Rayner Sextet' at Manchester's Albert Hall, 'School banned my business when I was 12. These examples are entirely unrelated to Der Spiegel's current revelations, but it is increasingly hard to be shocked when it comes to football and money. G`RQ? c57aRx>h(UcEhR[vF2(*_U7e:UJYtx*@/0ArR*Dg' 5 eU?HF>n;UO2T The government has repeatedly acknowledged the criticisms, and says: "Sweeping reforms aimed at improving working conditions and worker rights reflect the UAE's commitment to treat all guest workers with dignity and respect.". And who can forget the. It is understood that the allegations involve multi-million pound building projects for the city. "That should be of concern to football supporters as well as human rights organisations. Elliot was also found guilty of three counts of engaging in transactions that involved criminal property. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The human rights organisations called on the UAE authorities to provide independent medical examinations of the detainees who claimed to have been tortured, exclude from the proceedings any evidence obtained by torture, and carry out a prompt investigation. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have vehemently protested against the mass arrest of 94 people, their alleged torture while in Abu Dhabi jails, a "fundamentally unfair" trial, and long prison sentences with no right of appeal handed down earlier this month to the 69 people convicted. He did not respond when contacted by the M.E.N but is said to be challenging the decision. With their team the reigning Premier League champions, top of the league, and known for playing some of the best football that the English game has seen, most City supporters will refuse to allow allegations that their club deceived Uefa over financial fair play (FFP) rules to detract from pride in their club. She also examined the credibility of four of the Crowns witnesses and accepted them as being credible. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The allegations were brought to light by a town hall whistleblower. Its a city that was standing on the world stage. In May 2017, he was appointed as deputy mayor of Greater Manchester under the leadership of Mr Burnham. While City, PSG and other clubs appear to have made a mockery of FFP, Uefa stands by its regulations, arguing that they have made club finances healthier and more stable than ever, with 1,700m euros of combined losses across professional European leagues in 2011 transformed into 600m euros of profit last year. At the first court hearing on 4 March 2013 in Abu Dhabi, Amnesty and HRW reported that several defendants told the judge they had been "seriously ill-treated during months in detention". He has never stood for office before, and is standing as an independent candidate, but even his rivals think he stands a good chance. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Pastor and . Last updated on 7 November 20187 November 2018.From the section Football. No arrests have been made and officers are working closely with Manchester council.. ", This condemnation of the UAE for a crackdown on citizens criticising the ruling regime is relatively recent. 65,550 - 70,785 per annum. Such a shift in six weeks time would bring to an end Labours longest continuous period in power since the second world war. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Its findings led Merseyside police to launch Operation Aloft, under which 11 people have been arrested over allegations ranging from fraud to witness intimidation. Visit our website at www.manchester.gov.uk In an interview with the Guardian in 2009, Mubarak said of the running of City: "This is telling a lot to the world about how we are. Clubs that are backed these days not just by private investors, but by the rulers of entire petro-states, armed with sovereign wealth funds. We have known since 2014, when City reluctantly accepted a settlement with Uefa that included a 49m fine (two-thirds of which was suspended and avoided) along with restrictions on their European squad and incoming transfers, that the club were found to have breached the FFP rules. Sir Richard Leese: Manchester City Council boss to quit - BBC News That does not suggest a governing body that is too bothered about getting tough. Then, on Thursday, Alexander Sittenfeld became the third member of the City Council charged with corruption when he was arrested at home and charged with taking $40,000 in bribes while. In this meeting, of a desperate UK economy with Abu Dhabi's fortunes, there is a limit to the UK government's disapproval over allegations of torture and flaws in the UAE legal system. A Third Member of the Cincinnati City Council Is Charged With Corruption Analysis: Political fallout could cost Labour the citys mayoralty and votes in Mays local elections, It was a devastating indictment of one of Britains most powerful councils: a rotten culture of dubious contracts and backroom bullying, where staff were silenced and official records dumped in skips. Uefa are understood to be wary of the threat of a legal challenge by clubs with the resources of City and PSG, and reluctant to weaken their competitions by excluding some of the world's best players. GB Building Solutions assists in Manchester city council corruption Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers. They continue to investigate the case and have interviewed him under caution. The Constitution is made up of seven parts: If you require any help or advice on the Constitution please contact us at committee.services@manchester.gov.uk. Abu Dhabi accused of 'using Manchester City to launder image' No-one was killed in the explosion although many people were injured. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Amnesty said the trial showed "a deeply flawed judicial system" at odds with the "global image the UAE likes to project of itself as an efficient, forward-thinking country, which in many ways it is". Judge Grainger says based on inference, it was concluded that Mrs. Elliot knew the property and items she obtained were purchased with cash derived from the criminal conduct of her husband. The anti-corruption commission will scrutinise the officials for allegedly awarding contracts to various.. Australia One News Page: Thursday, 2 March 2023. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Premier League rejected that proposal but says it does ask the government about owners and will have been told that the UAE is a trusted ally. Manchester City Council has a zero tolerance approach to fraud and illegal activity. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Trusted News Discovery Since 2008. Mitch Englander: Envelopes Of Cash And A Guilty Plea. Hatton has not commented on his arrest. Manchester council has launched an investigation and called in the police after allegations were made against its head of corporate technical services, Terry Burke. Last summer, after the number of people arrested had grown to over 50, the official Emirates News Agency stated that the security services' investigation revealed that those arrested had "set up links with external elements, and had worked in an organised and systematic manner, causing harm to the country and spreading false information, in order to incite others against the country and to distort its shining image before the world". It was in relation to allegations that Elliott, McLean and Sibblies, over a 3-year period between 2013 and 2016, conspired to process fraudulent cheques, which were then withdrawn from the municipal corporations bank account. Dine wrote that the British government has followed the trial closely, and the foreign secretary, William Hague, had: "Raised the importance of ensuring the human rights of all Emirati citizens are fully respected. Extent of Manchester City's corruption revealed in the full UEFA judgement - Etihad renegotiated deal four times despite being tied to club for 10 years Posted by Biscan's Boots 2 years ago. "It is a very difficult and ugly feeling when you cannot express yourself because you are in fear of being arrested. The Labour politician oversaw a landmark period in the city's history, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. Nor will claims - however concerning - that executives ignored internal warnings about the reputational risk of striking a sponsorship deal with a Dubai-based construction company accused of mistreating migrant workers, and that a director sought to delay a response to a Freedom of Information request from a respected human rights expert over a commercial deal with the city council, have spoiled the fans' enjoyment of yet another convincing victory. Read about our approach to external linking. It is understood he was dismissed on September 12 for gross misconduct after a number of serious disciplinary matters came to light during the investigation. Anderson, the former mayor, has denied the allegations against him and suggested this week that they were the result of jealousy. Manchester council suspend senior town hall manager over corruption Sheikh Mansour bought City in 2008, and has since spent around 1bn of the fortune he wields as a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, principally to buy and pay the multimillion-pound wages of footballers to make City successful. Agriculture Minister Highlights the Importance of Food Security as World Grapples with COVID-19, Financial Institutions Now Allowed To Pay Dividends To Small Shareholders. Terry Burke. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. We have known since 2014, when City reluctantly accepted a settlement with Uefa that included a 49m fine (two-thirds of which was suspended and avoided) along with restrictions on their European. Elliot was also found guilty of five other counts of conspiracy to defraud. Fraud charges dropped against eight former Logan City councillors The authorities argue there is no connection between that case of the "UAE5", and the arrests and prosecution of the "UAE 94" that followed last year. Deputy Head of Audit & Risk Management. It is believed questions were raised over Mr Burkes dealings with subcontractors. This despite the club earning praise for the way it has invested 1.45bn of Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth since Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008, achieving an annual profit in each of the past four years of accounts, developing a respected youth system, and regenerating parts of east Manchester. But anyone expecting City to be kicked out of the Champions League is likely to be disappointed. Forty-seven councillors got suspended over Militant we could lose 60.. Manchester City Council - Wikipedia As our inquiries at a very early stage, we are not in a position to release any further information., A source added: Were confident we run a clean ship which is why were really pleased that people have been comfortable enough to come forward, meaning an investigation is now taking place., A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: GMP is investigating allegations made about a council officer. <> In a UK and Europe again in economic depression after the banking collapse, the real wealth from the oil and gas-rich Gulf states is eagerly sought, not only in football. Der Spiegel should be applauded for its brilliant and important journalism. A council spokesman said: We are carrying out an internal investigation into allegations made about a council officer. Mr Burke, from Worsley, Salford, was suspended from his post at the start of July. She ruled that Elliot and his co-conspirators, Harris and Roberts, were all guilty of conspiracy to defraud. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Welcome to our Facebook page. 5 0 obj ", Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, The family of Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour rule Abu Dhabi, the dominant state in the United Arab Emirates. On 10 June 2012, another Emirati, Saud Kulaib, tweeted that Suweidi was "being exposed to severe torture under the supervision of a high official". Man United were heavily linked with a move for Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo prior to his move to Liverpool in January. City supporters are used to such scrutiny of course. This is not to say that we should not care of course, or that the media should stop asking tough questions. "His oversight of the transformation of our city - in so many different ways - leaves a huge and powerful legacy that will be unmatched for a very, very long time. Although the focus has centred on the intervention of Whitehall commissioners, one of the most politically significant elements of the governments proposal has been overlooked: within two years, only one councillor will represent each of the citys 30 wards. Announcing his resignation, he said his "commitment to the city and the city region remains undiminished". The state security apparatus can be very ugly, so people are really afraid to say anything.". Former Superintendent of Roads and Works at the Corporation, Sanjay Elliot, the mastermind behind the fraud scheme, his former employee Dwayne Sibblies, Acting CEO David Harris and Temporary Works Overseer Kendale Roberts have all been found guilty.
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