Jack Warner and Mohamed Bin Hammam involved in bribery.

[Falkor]

The ethics committee’s report, which prompted a full investigation into the allegations, found there was a “compelling” prima facie case that Bin Hammam was engaged in an act of bribery, and that Warner was “an accessory to corruption”.
The revelation of the ethics committee’s findings comes two days after Warner resigned as a Fifa vice president, which prompted the governing body to drop its investigation into him and declare that "the presumption of innocence is maintained".
In fact the findings against Warner states that there is “prima facie” evidence that bribes were paid, and concludes that it is likely that Warner and Bin Hammam were involved in an attempt to buy influence ahead of the Fifa presidential election, in which the Qatari was a candidate.
It is understood that the ethics committee’s findings were sent to Mr Warner last week, three days before he resigned from all football posts.
The ethics committee findings were compiled by Namibian judge Petrus Damuseb, who based his report on a evidence prepared by US attorneys on behalf of Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer, and following evidence given by Warner and Bin Hammam in personal hearings at the end of May.
The allegations focus on a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union in Trinidad on May 10-11, at which it is claimed delegates from up to 25 nations were offered $40,000 in cash to vote for Bin Hammam in the presidential election.
Four nations, led by the Bahamas, offered witness statements to the Blazer inquiry stating that they were offered the money and that Warner told them that it was from Bin Hammam, and was linked to the presidential election.
Both men denied the allegations but were provisionally suspended from Fifa and a full investigation led by former FBI director Louis Freeh was launched. Both Warner and Bin Hammam are scheduled to be interviewed in Zurich as part of the investigation, perhaps before the end of the month, though Warner has said he will not speak to Freeh.
Warner, then the president of the CFU, arranged the Trinidad meeting at Bin Hammam’s request because the Qatari wanted to address delegates about his presidential campaign.
Bin Hammam claimed that he was unable to speak to them at the Concacaf congress a week earlier in Miami because of visa problems, but according to Blazer the Qatari expressly requested a separate meeting.
The ethics committee concluded that the witness statements of the Caribbean football officials and Blazer were credible. Warner’s evidence to the ethics committee is described as “self-serving” and it found that he failed to provide … a plausible” explanation as to why the witnesses would have lied.
The report states: "The comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming evidence permits to conclude prima facie that the accused [Warner] has initiated and arranged a special meeting of the CFU member associations for Mr Bin Hammam.
"Furthermore on the occasion of this meeting it seems Mr Bin Hammam offered, at least indirectly and under the pledge of secrecy, to each of the member associations an envelope containing USD 40,000.
"The FIFA ethics committee is of the primary opinion that the accused [Warner] had knowledge of the respective payments and condoned them.
"It seems quite likely that the accused [Warner] contributed himself to the relevant actions, thereby acting as an accessory to corruption."
The report adds: "The committee is also of the opinion that the respective money gifts can probably only be explained if they are associated with the FIFA presidential elections of 1 June 2011.
"Therefore it appears rather compelling to consider the actions of Mr Bin Hammam constitute prima facie an act of bribery, or at least an attempt to commit bribery.”
The report states that it was “inconceivable” that Warner “would not have known anything about the money offered to the attendees of the meeting concerned.”
"It appears prima facie impossible, in the opinion of the FIFA ethics committee, that the accused [Warner] could have considered the money distributed ... as legally or ethically proper and without any connection to the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
"Consequently, the accused [Warner] would at least be considered as an accessory to the aforementioned violations."
In a statement issued to Telegraph Sport Bin Hammam re-stated his denial of any involvement in improper conduct.
“There is nothing I can say more than I deny the allegations and insist that I have not done anything wrong during special Congress at Trinidad,” he said.
Warner had not responded to a request for comment at time of publication but earlier this week said he was convinced that he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“I am convinced, and I am advised by Counsel, that since my actions did not extend beyond facilitating the meeting that gave Mr Bin Hammam an opportunity to pursue his aborted bid for the FIFA presidency, I would be fully exonerated by any objective arbiter,” he said.

Jack Warner and Mohamed Bin Hammam involved in bribery after Fifa finds 'comprehensive evidence' - Telegraph

take it there is going to be a revote on Qatar then

 

[Curious Orange]

I don't believe this for an instant.

 

[Colossal Squid]

In other news, apparently the Pope is a Catholic... And helps paedophiles get away with their crimes

 

[Fef]

Jack Warner ? No. I can't believe that he could stoop to such depths. He must have been fitted up by some villains he sent down.

 

[Easy 10]

So in light of this report from the Ethics Committee, how can Warners "presumption of innocence" following his resignation possibly be maintained now ? They are squarely pointing the finger at him as being directly complicit in the bribing of delegates to vote for Bin Hammam. The evidence is damning. Just because he has now resigned, it doesn't alter the fact that he has been found guilty.

Am I missing something ?

 

[sten_super]

Am I missing something ?

The information that Warner has, that could bring down about 80% of all of FIFA's executives? Not to mention the backhander that Sepp gave Warner for resigning...

 

[Easy 10]

The information that Warner has, that could bring down about 80% of all of FIFA's executives? Not to mention the backhander that Sepp gave Warner for resigning...

Which is why I'm kind of surprised FIFA's own "Ethics Committee" has come out with such a strongly worded, damning report. Or a report at all, being as the investigation into corruption was effectively being knocked on the head following his resignation. They were about to sweep it all under the carpet as per usual, then this comes out. Its the kind of thing I thought would have been buried.

Weird. Maybe someone leaked it.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

So, FIFA's corrupt - who'd have thought it ! And they've always seemed so honourable and upstanding.

 

[Mr Blobby]

So what about those that accpeted the $40,000? They must now be sacked as well? Of course not as this goes on all the time and normal business for FIFA officials.

THe accounts of FIFA should not be allowed to be held in Switzerland where they can be shielded from a proper audit.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

So what about those that accpeted the $40,000? They must now be sacked as well? Of course not as this goes on all the time and normal business for FIFA officials.

THe accounts of FIFA should not be allowed to be held in Switzerland where they can be shielded from a proper audit.

It doesn't say anyone accepted the 40k, it says they were offered it, but I agree, all FIFA accounts and proceedings should be completely transparent.

 

[Easy 10]

So what about those that accpeted the $40,000? They must now be sacked as well? Of course not as this goes on all the time and normal business for FIFA officials.

THe accounts of FIFA should not be allowed to be held in Switzerland where they can be shielded from a proper audit.

At least 4 of the delegates who were offered the $40k are the whistle-blowers. They brought it to the Ethics Committee's attention and testifed that it was a "gift" from Bin Hammam, facilitated via Warner. As for the others who kept it....they're in for some awkward questions.

According to The Independent, a copy of this 17-page report (which was received by Warner 3 days before he subsequently resigned) has been obtained by the Press Association. Following Blatters 'presumption of innocence' statement the other day, this report was clearly NOT meant for public view - it must have been leaked by someone within FIFA, and I'd wager Blatter is doing a maHOOsive facepalm at this very moment. How can he now continue to maintain Warners 'presumption of innocence', when his own Ethics Committee has discovered and PUBLISHED the exact opposite ?

The questions won't go away. Blatters in a hole.

 

[Scoffers]

Who Knew?

 

[brakespear]

So in light of this report from the Ethics Committee, how can Warners "presumption of innocence" following his resignation possibly be maintained now ? They are squarely pointing the finger at him as being directly complicit in the bribing of delegates to vote for Bin Hammam. The evidence is damning. Just because he has now resigned, it doesn't alter the fact that he has been found guilty.

Am I missing something ?

Exactly what I thought when I read the article - presumably he has supplied a bunch of evidence regarding Bin Hammam and the 'presumption of innocence' is his reward.

Edit: Having reread, this statement from the Ethics Comitee regarding Warner does seem to make things a little more tricky for Blatter.

 

[Easy 10]

Exactly what I thought when I read the article - presumably he has supplied a bunch of evidence regarding Bin Hammam and the 'presumption of innocence' is his reward.

Edit: Having reread, this statement from the Ethics Comitee regarding Warner does seem to make things a little more tricky for Blatter.

Which has now been completely blown out of the water by the leaking of this Ethics Comittees report to the Press Association.

I think there are perhaps some people within FIFA, HONEST people (abeit not many), who are utterly fed up with the constant corruption and their own names being tainted and dragged through the mud through being guilty by association. Its gone too far now. Some of them have finally started blowing the whistle, and Blatter is like the little boy with his finger in the dyke trying desperately to stop the leaks. But the dyke is creaking...

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Back to the "presumption of innocence" - FIFA had already effectively called Warner a liar in that press conference a couple of weeks ago, by taking Blatters word over his regarding his posible declaration of the sums of money to Blatter (before the event). They could not have both been telling the truth.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Is jack Warner involved in whatever happened to our Cup Final money?

I think we should be told.

 

[Easy 10]

Blatters biggest problem now is that in getting Warner to resign, he has quite clearly done so in an attempt to cover up this damning Ethics Committee report. As FIFA president, he is duty-bound (its within their Constitution) to act on any evidence of corruption. But cancelling any further investigation and announcing that Warner leaves under a "presumption of innocence", when his own Ethics Committee had reported the precise opposite, leaves Blatter painted into an extremely difficult corner. He needed this report going public like he needed a hole in the head.

I know to an extent we can all roll our eyes, because the old bastard has been getting away with it for years, but I cannot see how Blatter can survive this. It seems there are people within FIFA who want a clearout, want him gone, and are prepared to get the dirty washing out to facilitate it.

Can't WAIT for Blatters next press conference. It could be flounce CENTRAL.

 

[Gritt23]

Blatters biggest problem now is that in getting Warner to resign, he has quite clearly done so in an attempt to cover up this damning Ethics Committee report.

Either to cover up, or give him his best chance of covering it up, because Warner could hardly resign now, and Blatter say the same about "well that's the end of the investigation then. Innocent."

This report was faxed to Warner from FIFA on 17th June, 3 days before he resigned. There is no way then that Blatter can claim he had not seen this report when he said the matter is closed, and he shall remain to be viewed as "innocent."

This is too much for even Blatter to ride out. It must surely be a matter of weeks from completely collapsing. As you say Easy, there are too many people in FIFA who must be getting thoroughly hacked off with the guilty by association, while those who ARE truly guilty get to resign and be pronounced "innocent."

 

[Easy 10]

Either to cover up, or give him his best chance of covering it up, because Warner could hardly resign now, and Blatter say the same about "well that's the end of the investigation then. Innocent."

This report was faxed to Warner from FIFA on 17th June, 3 days before he resigned. There is no way then that Blatter can claim he had not seen this report when he said the matter is closed, and he shall remain to be viewed as "innocent."

This is too much for even Blatter to ride out. It must surely be a matter of weeks from completely collapsing. As you say Easy, there are too many people in FIFA who must be getting thoroughly hacked off with the guilty by association, while those who ARE truly guilty get to resign and be pronounced "innocent."

Indeed.

There is also pressure coming on FIFA from the Swiss government - some of their MP's are apparently uncomfortable with the goings-on within FIFA under the protection of Swiss law which gives supposedly 'non-profit' organisations massive tax breaks, and protection from prosecution for bribary as that offence does not break Swiss anti-corruption laws. They're apparently moving to reform those laws now.

Just a matter of time before that sorry mob come crashing down now, I reckons.

 

[Simontheseagull]

Presumably Blazer who blew the whistle on Warner will have seen the report and made it available to The Press Association?