Former Rangers owner portrayed as fall guy, Whyte trial jury hears
Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte is being portrayed as “the fall guy” over the takeover of the club, his fraud trial has been told.
Donald Findlay QC, defending Whyte, told jurors at the High Court in Glasgow that Whyte and previous owner Sir David Murray had been “illserved” by their advisers in the run-up to the deal.
Whyte is accused of acquiring Rangers by fraud in May 2011. He denies the charge, and another under the Companies Act.
The court has heard the sale was eventually made to Whyte for £1 but came with a number of financial obliga- tions, including the clearing of a large bank debt.
The Crown alleges Whyte pretended to then owner Sir David that funds were “immediately available” on an “unconditional basis” to make all required payments for a controlling and majority stake in the Glasgow club.
Mr Findlay also said advisers spent “not a single, solitary penny” checking out Whyte and his background.
He said that many witnesses had sought to absolve themselves from responsibility.
The defence lawyer said: “Before this trial started, beyond this court and elsewhere, there have been attempts to portray Craig Whyte as a pantomime villain, the person responsible, so he must take the whole blame. Aided and abetted by the Crown approach, people are now trying to make him the fall guy and that’s what this is about, he is being made to be the fall guy.”
The trial continues.