Tory MPs investigated for lobbying judges before Elphicke hearing
May 11, 2021, 10:21 am

Tory MPs investigated for lobbying judges before Elphicke hearing

The five MPs wrote to senior judges to intervene in a hearing on whether references to support Charlie Elphicke at his sentencing for sexual assault could be made public.

Group used Commons stationery to write to judges before hearing in relation to disgraced former MP

Five Conservative members of parliament are under investigation over attempts to lobby judges ahead of a hearing in relation to the disgraced former Conservative MP, Charlie Elphicke.

Parliament’s sleaze watchdog confirmed it was investigating the MPs; Roger Gale, Adam Holloway, Bob Stewart, Theresa Villiers and Elphicke’s estranged wife, Natalie, who succeeded him in his Dover and Deal seat.

Using Commons stationery, the group wrote to senior judges to intervene in a hearing on whether references to support the former MP at his sentencing for sexual assault could be made public.

They are being investigated by Kathryn Stone, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, for “use of facilities provided from the public purse” and for “actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the house as a whole, or of its members generally.”

A Conservative peer and former minister who had also put his name to correspondence sent by the MPs was found earlier this year to have breached parliament’s code of conduct.

Lord Freud apologised and agreed to make a personal statement to the House of Lords after investigations were launched when a member of public complained after reading a Guardian report that the head of the judiciary had admonished Freud and five MPs over their attempted interference.

It had not been Freud’s idea to contact the judges and he had not realised that the letters were being sent on House of Commons headed paper, according to the report into his conduct.

Freud, Gale, Holloway, Stewart and Villiers were among those who provided character references to support Elphicke at his sentencing in September, when he was jailed for two years after he was found guilty of of sexual assault against two women.

The Guardian then lodged a request to access the references provided by the parliamentarians – who were not known at the time – and a date was set for a court hearing. Freud and the MPs subsequently identified themselves as the authors.

However, they and Natalie Elphicke then wrote to senior judges, copying in the judge who was due to oversee the hearing, expressing concern that “matters of principle” should first be considered by senior members of the judiciary and by parliament.

In the same list published on Monday, the parliamentary commissioner for standards confirmed that Boris Johnson was being investigated for a possible breach over a luxury £15,000 Christmas holiday in the Caribbean.

Also under investigation are Claudia Webbe, the MP for Leicester East, who was suspended from the Labour party last year, and two Tory MPs, Jonathan Gullis and Owen Paterson.

source: Ben Quinn

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.