This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41339470
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Dominic Chappell denies BHS probe charges | Dominic Chappell denies BHS probe charges |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has denied failing to hand over information to the Pensions Regulator, which is probing the retailer's collapse. | |
Mr Chappell is charged with failing to provide information and documents on three occasions. | |
Before entering a plea he asked for the case to be adjourned because his solicitor was unable to attend. | |
Mr Chappell said he had not received a summons because he had been on a boat during August. | |
Mr Chappell's firm Retail Acquisitions (RAL) bought BHS for £1 in 2015 from Sir Philip Green. | |
The subsequent collapse of the department store chain led to the loss of 11,000 jobs and crystalized a deficit of £571m in the firm's pension scheme. | |
Mr Chappell had been summonsed to appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court to face three charges of neglecting or refusing to provide information and documents, without a reasonable excuse. | |
Outside the court he was asked by the BBC's Simon Gompertz: "Are you going to come up with some cash for BHS pensioners Mr Chappell?" | |
He responded: "I have no comment to make at this time, but when I come out, maybe I'll have a comment." | |
Mr Chappell's lawyer could not attend on Wednesday so he had to represent himself. | |
Mr Chappell asked to adjourn the proceedings, as he said he had been unable to look at the summons sent to him from the Pensions Regulator as he had been offshore on a boat with no internet access for most of August. | |
He said he first learned of his summons during a phone call from the Pensions Regulator on 21 August. | |
He said: "My lawyer was on the phone call - they subsequently sent a copy of the summons which arrived some days later. | |
"I still have not seen the summons. I have not asked him for a copy of the summons." | |
When district judge William Ashworth asked him why, he replied: "Because I was away, I did not have internet access when I was away." | |
"I was offshore, on a boat," he explained. | |
Mr Chappell said a copy of the summons had not arrived at his remote country home either. | |
He told the court he was set to meet with his lawyer on Tuesday but his representative was now "out of the country dealing with family circumstances." | |
The trial has been scheduled to start on 8 January 2018. |