Former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp will stand trial next January over tax evasion charges.
64-year-old Redknapp, who both played for and managed the Hammers during a lengthy and colourful career faces the very real prospect of a custodial sentence should he be found guilty.The current manager of Tottenham Hotspur - whose house was raided in 2007 by Police investigating a charge of corruption - was considered to be untouchable by many.
However that would now appear not to be the case and Redknapp - who was widely-tipped to be the next manager of England - will face trial over charges relating to his time as manager of Portsmouth FC along with former Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric.
Redknapp's indictment
Count one: Milan Mandaric and Henry James Redknapp, between the 1st day of April 2002 and the 28th day of Nov 2007, at the material times respectively the Chairman and the Football Manager of Portsmouth City Football Club Limited, with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of HM Revenue and Customs, arranged for $145,000, paid by Milan Mandaric as a result of or in connection with Henry James Redknapp’s employment and as a reward for services, to be transferred to a Monaco bank account opened by Henry James Redknapp for that purpose, in order to conceal the said emolument from HM Revenue and Customs and evade the payment of Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions thereon (whether by the operation of PAYE by the club or otherwise).
Count two: Milan Mandaric, between the 1st day of May 2004 and the 28th day of November 2007, at the material times the Chairman and the Football Manager of Portsmouth City Football Club Limited, with intent to defraud and to the prejudice of HM Revenue and Customs, arranged for $150,000, paid by Milan Mandaric as a result of or in connection with Henry James Redknapp’s employment and as a reward for services, to be transferred to a Monaco bank account opened by Henry James Redknapp for that purpose, in order to conceal the said employment income from HM Revenue and Customs and evade the payment of Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions thereon (whether by the operation of PAYE by the club or otherwise).
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