Latest news with #GamblingAct2005
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Craig Williams and Russell George in court today
Former Powys MP Craig Williams and current Montgomeryshire MS Russell George are appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (June 13), accused of election gambling. They are two of 15 people charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005 following an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election. Williams arrived at the court a short time ago.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
FirstUp: Swedish Prime Minister to meet Nato chief and other headlines of the day
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is set to meet Nato head Mark Rutte today in Stockholm. Meanwhile, a UK court will begin a trial of former Conservative MP Craig Williams, along with 14 others, in connection with gambling offences during the national election last year. In India, a special task force is likely to begin functioning in Karnataka from today to fight communal violence read more Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte met shortly after the latter took charge. File image/AFP It is set to be a busy Friday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is set to meet Nato head Mark Rutte today in Stockholm. Meanwhile, a court will begin trial for 15 individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, in connection to gambling offences during the national election last year. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is set to visit Sweden today to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders. In India, a special task force is likely to begin functioning today to fight communal violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Swedish PM to meet Nato head Mark Rutte Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will host Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte for a bilateral meeting in Stockholm. The high-level engagement will be followed by a joint press conference. According to reports, discussions are expected to focus on strengthening Nato's collective deterrence and defence capabilities, particularly in light of the evolving security landscape in Europe. Both leaders will likely address Sweden's contributions to the Alliance, which include plans to further increase defence spending and an offer to lead a new Nato battlegroup to be established in Finland. The meeting comes at a crucial time, with Sweden having recently become a full member of Nato in March 2024. The first court hearing in connection with charges related to the UK general election betting scandal will take place today. Fifteen individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams and Welsh Senedd member Russell George, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Conservative Party candidate Craig Williams speaks has been charged alongside 14 others with gambling offences. File image/Reuters The Gambling Commission launched an investigation in June 2024 into these alleged 'cheating' offences under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. The charges suggest that individuals with insider knowledge placed bets on the timing of the 2024 general election before the date was publicly announced by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. While political betting is legal in the UK, using insider information for such wagers is a criminal offence. The UK's gambling regulator filed a chargesheet against the individuals on April 16 this year. The scandal cast a significant shadow over the Conservative Party's election campaign and has prompted renewed debate about the ethics of political betting and the need for stricter regulations. If found guilty, those charged could face fines or prison sentences of up to two years. Vietnamese Prime Minister set to visit Sweden Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will meet Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson along with members of the Swedish Royal Family today. Pham Minh Chinh is on a two-day visit to Sweden and has been present in the country since Wednesday (June 11). The visit, marking the first by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Sweden in six years, is a significant event aimed at injecting new momentum into the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Discussions with the Swedish PM will likely cover deepening collaboration in key areas such as politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, environmental issues and climate change response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Karnataka's Special Task Force to likely begin The special task force formed to tackle communal violence will begin from June 13. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara is likely to launch the task force. According to an itinerary of the district minister, the special action force will be inaugurated at the Mangaluru Police Commissioner's office. According to a Deccan Herald report, the force will have three companies or units, which will be set up in DK, Shimoga and Udupi districts. The government order issued on May 28 stated that 248 officers, including a senior DIGP, will be a part of this force. These officers have been allotted by the Anti-Naxal Force. With inputs from agencies
Scotsman
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh footballer accused of deliberately getting himself booked in Livingston v Celtic game
A former SPFL star is due to appear in court accused of deliberately getting himself booked in an attempt to cheat at gambling. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Keaghan Jacobs is alleged to have picked up a yellow card on purpose while playing for Livingston in a Scottish Premiership league match against Celtic at the Tony Macaroni stadium in October 2019. Jacobs, 35, is said to have 'acted in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card for the purpose of enabling or assisting others to cheat at gambling' during the clash on October 6, 2019. The game was played at Livingston's Tony Macaroni stadium | SNS Group Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A second man, Conan McDiarmid is alleged to have placed bets, and arranged for others to place bets, on Jacobs receiving the caution from referee Willie Collum during the match against the Hoops. Court papers state McDiarmid, 40, placed the bets 'in the knowledge that it had been arranged that Jacobs would act in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card during the match'. Both men are being prosecuted under the Gambling Act 2005, Section 42, 1A. The case against Jacobs, from Edinburgh, and McDiarmid, from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, called at the Capital's sheriff court last Thursday where both men failed to appear in person. The case against Jacobs was continued without plea to later this month while McDiarmid's lawyer lodged a not guilty plea to the allegation and a trial date was set down for later this year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Premiership match involved in the alleged betting scam saw Livingston hand Celtic their first defeat of the season with a 2-0 win at the Tony Macaroni stadium. Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie was shown a straight red card for a wild tackle in the 25th minute before second half goals from Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes secured the points for the Lions. Jacobs was shown a yellow card by referee Willie Collum for an illegal challenge on winger Jonny Hayes in the 95th minute. Jacobs is a South African national who had two spells with Livingston between 2007 and 2015 and again between 2017 and 2022. The midfielder has played a total of 252 times for the West Lothian club and scored 23 goals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jacobs has also turned out for South African club Bidvest Wits, Falkirk, Arbroath and is currently playing with Lowland League club Gala Fairydean Rovers. Jacobs is believed to have made football history when he played alongside his three triplet brothers - Kyle, Devon and Sheldon - in a Scottish Third Division match between Livingston and Albion Rovers in April 2010. The 2-0 win in front of just over 600 supporters is said to be the only time four brothers have turned out for the same professional senior team in the same match. McDiarmid played as a defender with a number of amateur clubs including Edinburgh United and Whitehill Welfare before he retired in 2020 and moved into management.
Cambrian News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Montgomeryshire MS will not stand for re-election
Mr George, who has served as a Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire since 2011 and former Montgomeryshire MP Craig Davies are among 15 people charged by the Gambling Commission with offences under the Gambling Act 2005 following an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Conservative lawmaker and 14 others charged over UK election timing bets
LONDON (Reuters) - A former lawmaker in Britain's now opposition Conservative Party has been charged alongside 14 others with gambling offences over bets made on the timing of the national election last year, the Gambling Commission said on Monday. Britain's election dates are not fixed and the timing of a vote, decided by the prime minister, is subject to fevered speculation, with bookmakers taking bets on possible outcomes. Craig Williams, an aide of former prime minister Rishi Sunak, bet 100 pounds ($128) that Sunak would call an election in July 2024, just days before he did, according to reports. When asked in June 2024 whether he had placed the bet based on inside information, Williams, 39, said he had "clearly made a huge error of judgement". Later that month the Conservative Party withdrew support for Williams, who stood to win 500 pounds from the bet. He lost his seat in the election. The Gambling Commission launched an investigation into people suspected of using confidential knowledge of the election date to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets, an offence under the Gambling Act 2005. "The Commission is committed to upholding the law and will continue to take robust action against illegal betting practices, including investigating and prosecuting offences," it said in a statement. The 15 charged will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13, the Gambling Commission said.
