Ex-BHS boss charged over pension scandal

THE former owner of BHS is to be prosecuted by the pensions watchdog for allegedly failing to provide information about the department store’s retirement fund.

Dominic Chappell, 50, is accused of not complying with three demands from the Pensions Regulator, which is investigating the sale and collapse of the -year-old high street chain.

BHS plunged into administration in April last year just 13 months after serial bankrupt Chappell’s firm Retail Acquisitions bought it from Sir Philip Green for £1 – despite having no retail experience.

The collapse of BHS with a £571million black hole in its pension fund led to the loss of 20,000 jobs and threw the retirement plans of thou- sands of former workers into doubt. After months of wrangling, Sir Philip agreed to help plug the hole in the retirement fund with £363million of his own money.

But Chappell will face magistrates next month on three charges of failing to provide information in response to notices issued under the Pensions Act 2004. This is a criminal offence that could lead to an unlimited fine.

Frank Field, chairman of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, said yesterday: ‘Why was Sir Philip Green allowed to get away with an inadequate settlement, in which pensions have been cut, yet Chappell is being sued? I’ll be consulting Commons lawyers on when I can begin to unlock that puzzle.’