High flying Aussie bookie pleads guilty to hiding bets

[dave nz]

SIMON Beasley faces losing his Bookmaker.com/?cmpid=4437" target="_blank">Bookmaker's licence after pleading guilty to two improper practices, including hiding $6.5 million in betting turnover.

Mr Beasley, the highest-profile rails Bookmaker.com/?cmpid=4437" target="_blank">bookmaker whose annual turnover exceeds $70 million, will know his fate when the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board reconvenes on April 2.

The last bookmaker to be outed for any length of time was Anthony Cullen, who was disqualified in 2004 for three years on charges of false and misleading evidence and falsifying phone records.

Mr Beasley will field at race meetings until the inquiry resumes.

The former champion Footscray full-forward declined to comment yesterday as he left the 35-minute hearing.

After Racing Victoria stewards reissued charges dealing with improper practices, Mr Beasley pleaded guilty to both.

A further 11 charges were withdrawn.

Terry Forrest, QC, appearing for RVL stewards, told the board that over 2 1/2 years Mr Beasley had not "properly, accurately and completely recorded" 1450 bets.

Mr Forrest said the turnover of the bets was $6.5 million.

He said Mr Beasley on about October 21, 2008 also attempted to destroy evidence relevant to the stewards' inquiry.

Mr Forrest said Mr Beasley or a person acting on his instruction attempted to destroy thousands of racing files by using a data shredder software program.

Stewards originally found Mr Beasley had taken 1860 side bets, but that was reduced to 1460.

Mr Forrest said stewards had found that Mr Beasley had taken "101 transactions" after stewards opened the inquiry in May last year.

He said the turnover of those bets was $375,985.

When Judge Lewis, chairman of the board, asked Mr Forrest if Mr Beasley had evaded the Victorian Bookmakers Licence Levy on $6.5 million turnover of undeclared bets, he replied: "Yes."

Mr Beasley's counsel, Damian Sheales, said Beasley had not tried to avoid payment, but had been guilty of laziness.

Judge Lewis said the board had the power to revoke or suspend his bookmaker's licence.

Mr Sheales was granted an adjournment to allow him to examine the list of 1450 bets.

BETS handled by Beasley are being investigated by detectives from the Purana gangland taskforce.

Mr Beasley himself is not believed to be under investigation by Purana.

[PhillipMG]

what a dirty company.