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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Millionaire is cleared of bribery | Millionaire is cleared of bribery |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A property developer who left an envelope containing £5,000 cash for a council chief executive has been found not guilty of attempted bribery. | A property developer who left an envelope containing £5,000 cash for a council chief executive has been found not guilty of attempted bribery. |
| Multi-millionaire Kevin Green, 43, of Burry Port, told Carmarthen Crown Court he had been "naive" over the donation of £20 notes for a swimming pool. | Multi-millionaire Kevin Green, 43, of Burry Port, told Carmarthen Crown Court he had been "naive" over the donation of £20 notes for a swimming pool. |
| The envelope, marked "strictly private and confidential" was left for Carmarthenshire Council's Mark James. | |
| Speaking after he was cleared Mr Green said "justice has been done". | Speaking after he was cleared Mr Green said "justice has been done". |
| He added: "I feel it should never have been brought to trial." | He added: "I feel it should never have been brought to trial." |
| The father-of-three said the case had had a "huge" impact on his family. | The father-of-three said the case had had a "huge" impact on his family. |
| He said: "It's been extremely difficult - it's been a mental battle in the worry of the whole trial." | He said: "It's been extremely difficult - it's been a mental battle in the worry of the whole trial." |
| But he added he did not "blame" anyone. | But he added he did not "blame" anyone. |
| During the trial, the court had heard that on 2 September last year Mr Green had visited county hall to finalise arrangements for a meeting he was due to have the following week with Mr James to discus land he co-owned at Travellers Rest near Carmarthen. | During the trial, the court had heard that on 2 September last year Mr Green had visited county hall to finalise arrangements for a meeting he was due to have the following week with Mr James to discus land he co-owned at Travellers Rest near Carmarthen. |
| Chief executive Mark James told his assistant to call the police | Chief executive Mark James told his assistant to call the police |
| As he left he handed an envelope marked "private and confidential" to Mr James' personal assistant Liz Thomas. | As he left he handed an envelope marked "private and confidential" to Mr James' personal assistant Liz Thomas. |
| When she opened it later in the day she found it contained £5,000 in £20 notes but there was nothing else inside. | When she opened it later in the day she found it contained £5,000 in £20 notes but there was nothing else inside. |
| Mr James called the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police and Mr Green was arrested that night. | Mr James called the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police and Mr Green was arrested that night. |
| Mr Green, a former dairy farmer who rents out properties in Llanelli, Kidwelly and Carmarthen, said the money was intended as a donation towards the refurbishment of Carmarthen leisure centre. | Mr Green, a former dairy farmer who rents out properties in Llanelli, Kidwelly and Carmarthen, said the money was intended as a donation towards the refurbishment of Carmarthen leisure centre. |
| He said he was "indebted to the pool" because swimming lessons there had helped improve his children's' confidence, which had been hit while he and his wife were going through a divorce. | He said he was "indebted to the pool" because swimming lessons there had helped improve his children's' confidence, which had been hit while he and his wife were going through a divorce. |
| Unanimous verdict | Unanimous verdict |
| He accepted he had been "naive" in not leaving a covering note but had denied the charge of corruption. | He accepted he had been "naive" in not leaving a covering note but had denied the charge of corruption. |
| "I made a mistake - I should have left a note," he told the jury. | "I made a mistake - I should have left a note," he told the jury. |
| The prosecution case had been that money was intended to "tempt" Mr James into looking favourably at Mr Green's plans for the land. | The prosecution case had been that money was intended to "tempt" Mr James into looking favourably at Mr Green's plans for the land. |
| After more than four hours of deliberation the jury returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict. | After more than four hours of deliberation the jury returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict. |
| In a statement issued after the case Carmarthenshire council said: "The court has found Mr Green not guilty of corruption but the council hopes that the court action in itself will serve as a lesson that the council will act upon any suspicion or suggestion of alleged corruption. | In a statement issued after the case Carmarthenshire council said: "The court has found Mr Green not guilty of corruption but the council hopes that the court action in itself will serve as a lesson that the council will act upon any suspicion or suggestion of alleged corruption. |
| "The council applauds the chief executive's actions and those of its senior officers in acting quite properly in referring the matter to the police immediately they were made aware of the situation." | "The council applauds the chief executive's actions and those of its senior officers in acting quite properly in referring the matter to the police immediately they were made aware of the situation." |