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Developer 'naive on £5,000 gift' | Developer 'naive on £5,000 gift' |
(1 day later) | |
A property developer told a jury he was "naive" to leave £5,000 in cash for a council's top official before they were due to discuss a planning issue. | A property developer told a jury he was "naive" to leave £5,000 in cash for a council's top official before they were due to discuss a planning issue. |
Multi-millionaire Kevin Green, 43, of Burry Port, said the envelope full of £20 notes was not a bribe but a donation to the local swimming pool. | Multi-millionaire Kevin Green, 43, of Burry Port, said the envelope full of £20 notes was not a bribe but a donation to the local swimming pool. |
He said with hindsight he could see how Carmarthenshire Council chief executive Mark James misunderstood his intention. | He said with hindsight he could see how Carmarthenshire Council chief executive Mark James misunderstood his intention. |
Mr Green denies corruption. The case continues at Carmarthen Crown Court. | Mr Green denies corruption. The case continues at Carmarthen Crown Court. |
He told the jury that on 2 September last year he went to county hall to finalise arrangements for a meeting with Mr James the following week, where they were to discuss land he part-owned at Travellers Rest. | He told the jury that on 2 September last year he went to county hall to finalise arrangements for a meeting with Mr James the following week, where they were to discuss land he part-owned at Travellers Rest. |
He said he handed over the envelope, marked strictly private and confidential and containing nothing but the money, to Mr James' personal assistant Liz Thomas. | He said he handed over the envelope, marked strictly private and confidential and containing nothing but the money, to Mr James' personal assistant Liz Thomas. |
She later opened the envelope and when Mr James returned to his office he asked her to call the police. | She later opened the envelope and when Mr James returned to his office he asked her to call the police. |
Mr Green was arrested later that day. | Mr Green was arrested later that day. |
If I was to bribe the chief executive - I'm not stupid - I know where he lives - I would have gone to his home Kevin Green | If I was to bribe the chief executive - I'm not stupid - I know where he lives - I would have gone to his home Kevin Green |
Asked by his barrister Patrick Harrington QC whether the money was meant as bribe Mr Green replied: "No". | Asked by his barrister Patrick Harrington QC whether the money was meant as bribe Mr Green replied: "No". |
Asked what the £5,000 was for, he said: "A gift for the pool." | Asked what the £5,000 was for, he said: "A gift for the pool." |
He told the court: "I made a mistake - I should've left a note." | He told the court: "I made a mistake - I should've left a note." |
The court heard that since 2000 Mr Green had built up a multimillion-pound property empire in Carmarthenshire after quitting as a dairy farmer. | The court heard that since 2000 Mr Green had built up a multimillion-pound property empire in Carmarthenshire after quitting as a dairy farmer. |
He owned properties in Llanelli, Carmarthen, Kidwelly and travelled the world giving talks on property investment. | He owned properties in Llanelli, Carmarthen, Kidwelly and travelled the world giving talks on property investment. |
Chief executive Mark James told his assistant to call the police | |
He said he and his wife had separated and that had had an effect on their three young children. | He said he and his wife had separated and that had had an effect on their three young children. |
To help them get their confidence back he took them for swimming lessons at Carmarthen Leisure Centre and he felt "indebted to the pool". | To help them get their confidence back he took them for swimming lessons at Carmarthen Leisure Centre and he felt "indebted to the pool". |
He said he had been thinking about making a donation towards its refurbishment for some time and as he was going to county hall that day he made the "spontaneous" decision to leave the money for Mr James. | He said he had been thinking about making a donation towards its refurbishment for some time and as he was going to county hall that day he made the "spontaneous" decision to leave the money for Mr James. |
Geraint Walters QC, prosecuting, asked him whether he accepted that leaving the money without any covering note or explanation was likely to give rise to suspicion. | |
Mr Green said his actions had been "naive". | Mr Green said his actions had been "naive". |
When challenged that the money was meant as a bribe Mr Green replied: "If I was to bribe the chief executive - I'm not stupid - I know where he lives - I would have gone to his home". | When challenged that the money was meant as a bribe Mr Green replied: "If I was to bribe the chief executive - I'm not stupid - I know where he lives - I would have gone to his home". |
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