Three former G4S executives accused of defrauding the Ministry of Justice over the firm’s multi-million-pound tagging contract have appeared in court.
Richard Morris, 45, former managing director of G4S Care and Justice, allegedly misled the government about the firm’s profits.
Morris allegedly submitted fraudulent revenue and costs document – known as a Financial Model (FM6) – between 2009 to 2012.
Former commercial director Mark Preston, 49, and former finance manager James Jardine, 38, are also accused of involvement in the alleged fraud.
The three former executives face seven counts of fraud by false representation.
The charges before the court total more than £147 million.
Preston and Jardine were in the dock at Southwark Crown Court, while Morris was sat at the public gallery.
None of them have entered any pleas, but have indicated they will deny all charges.
Judge Deborah Taylor told them:
‘I am adjourning this case for trial until the 10 January in 2022, when the trial will take place.
‘In the meantime, I have fixed a further case management for the Friday 18 December.’
Morris, of High Wycombe, Bucks, Preston, of Northwich, Cheshire, and Jardine, of Penrith, Cumbria, are all charged with five counts of fraud by false representation.
Each of the charges alleges that they ‘dishonestly made a false representation, namely To the Ministry of Justice via schedule of revenue and costs known as a Financial Model (FM6)submitted by G4S Care and Justice services (UK)Ltd [G4S Care] pursuant to contracts for the provision of electronic monitoring services, which was and which they knew was, or might be, untrue or misleading, intending to make a gain…’
They were granted unconditional bail ahead of a hearing on 18 December at Southwark Crown Court.
