Poltics
Dilapidated chief financial officer Christopher Marsh and his spouse Louise Marsh, as properly as financial controller Pritesh Mistry, and financial consultant Nileshkumar Lad, looked at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the day gone by (10 October) on costs brought by the Extreme Fraud Administrative center (SFO).
All have been accused of defrauding the firm’s shareholders and collectors between October 2015 and October 2018.
During a brief hearing, the court modified into once told that Marsh intends to battle the costs at trial, while the diversified defendants did now not indicate any pleas.
The SFO brought the costs against the four individuals, who oversaw the financial failure of a chain of nearly 200 high road bakeries.
It opened an investigation into the conduct, codenamed ‘Operation Venom’, in October 2018, two days after the firm instantly suspended trading, closing 70 stores.
“Patisserie Valerie’s abrupt collapse rocked our high streets – leaving boarded-up retail outlets, devastating job losses and principal investor losses in its wake,” acknowledged Lisa Osofsky, director of the SFO, upon announcing the costs,
“This day is a step ahead in getting to the bottom of this scandal.”
All four defendants have been released on bail till a plea hearing at Southwark crown court on 7 November.