Daily Mirror

Tesco fraud trial is axed

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A multimilli­on pound fraud trial involving three former Tesco executives has been abandoned after one of them suffered a heart attack.

Carl Rogberg, the 51-year-old ex-finance director of Tesco UK, was taken to hospital last week.

Rogberg was standing trial alongside Chris Bush, 52, former managing director of Tesco UK, and John Scouler, 49, former UK food commercial director, at Southwark crown court.

Judge Deborah Taylor, who was due to begin her summing up of the case, instead discharged the jury, saying it would not be right and proper to continue.

All three were accused of fraud and false accounting.

Lawyers estimate the cost of the four-month trial, which had been dogged by delays, at up to £10million.

Speaking outside court, Rogberg’s lawyer Neil O’May said his client was “devastated at the news that the trial has been aborted”.

The Serious Fraud Office is now considerin­g whether the case should go to a retrial.

A decision is expected by March 2, with the earliest possible start date being in September.

 ??  ?? HEART ATTACK Rogberg
HEART ATTACK Rogberg

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