It has been found that Brophy used his position as head of lighting to ensure that an extremely profitable contract went to a company he specifically set up for his own benefit - Pro Design - of which Gordon was also a director. Both are to be sentenced later this month.
The fraud was discovered when in September 2000 the NMEC had become suspicious and called in the Metropolitan police. This was followed by an investigation by the Public Sector Corruption Team and the Met's Economic and Specialist Crime Directorate. Detectives discovered false information within the tender document submitted by Pro Design and Brophy, Gordon and several others were subsequently charged with conspiracy to defraud the NMEC and fraudulent trading. Detectives also uncovered that Pro Design was set up by Brophy for his own benefit and that he had received corrupt payments of £140,000 from another company to favour them in the awarding of a multi-million pound contract to provide lights to the Dome.
In February this year at Southwark Crown Court, Brophy pleaded guilty to the above charges and also pleaded guilty to furnishing false information and removing the proceeds of crime from the UK. At a separate hearing Gordon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the NMEC and fraudulent trading.
The contract, which was initially worth £1.9m, ultimately ended up paying Pro Design £3.9m. Police said that Brophy had channelled the money abroad to fund his lavish lifestyle. Yesterday the BBC reported that Detective Chief Inspector Steve Kibble, who led the investigation, said: "it has been an extremely complex fraud inquiry. This was a carefully planned attempt to defraud NMEC of millions of pounds. Simon Brophy channelled the proceeds of the crime offshore to bank accounts in Latvia, Switzerland and the United States."
Brophy and Gordon were found to have funded an extremely luxurious lifestyle that included extensive travelling abroad, acquiring amongst other things property in Florida Keys, a helicopter and a yacht in Malta.
Others charged were: Margaret Brophy (wife of Simon) - acquitted in May. Charges against Ruth Barclay were discontinued in June. Ian Brown, Leslie Nash and Charles Barron were acquitted at Southwark Crown Court on 4.7.05, after which reporting restrictions were lifted
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
