The Weather Lottery CEO Charged with fraud

Posted 1/14/11 : GBP80 000 involved in online gambling company case
 
Reports in the Yorkshire Post newspaper, together with a company announcement from internet gambling group The Weather Lottery (WTL), have revealed that the company's former chief executive officer, Keith Milhench, and a fellow employee named as Amie Pickersgill-Smith are to appear in court soon on fraud and theft charges involving GBP80 000.
 
Lord Razzall, the chairman of the company revealed in his annual report last week that Milhench had departed, although the criminal proceedings were not referenced.
 
Milhench and Pickersgill-Smith, who are no longer employed by WTL, will appear jointly charged with seven counts of fraud and four of theft on January 24th, 2011 before a Nottinghamshire magistrate the company statement revealed.
 
The charges relate to the alleged misappropriation of jackpot payments to lottery winners between April 2008 and April 2010, when both parties worked for the company.
 
Once discovered, and following an investigation by the UK Gambling Commission, the case was reported to the Nottinghamshire police for prosecution. The company statement emphasises that it retains its Gambling Commission licence to operate as an external lottery manager, which was renewed in October last year.
 
Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed that no one else connected with WTL is suspected of any wrongdoing, and that they are satisfied that the alleged victims have been identified.