CLASSIFIED
Prosecutors ‘broke the law’ by telling cops to check classified files in botched Rangers takeover probe
by Douglas WalkerPROSECUTORS broke the law by telling cops to check classified files in the botched Rangers takeover probe, a court heard.
A lawyer for ex-Ibrox administrator David Whitehouse said the Crown made the admission relating to a swoop on Duff & Phelps’ London HQ in 2014.
Roddy Dunlop QC claimed that during the probe an advocate depute said: “Please instruct police to check legal privilege and put to one side.”
Legally privileged papers can’t be checked without permission from those concerned.
The Lord Advocate’s brief Gerry Moynihan QC conceded Mr Whitehouse and colleague Paul Clark “should not have been prosecuted at all” over Craig Whyte’s 2012 Ibrox power grab.
He told the Court of Session the Crown had no objection to paying whatever damages sum might be ruled as being due to the administrators.
Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark are suing for £20.8million.
Last month they got an interim £600,000 over the fraud case, which was dropped in 2016.
It comes after we told that ex-Rangers chief executive Charles Green "should never have been prosecuted" and will receive a damages payout and public apology, according to a letter from Lord Advocate.
The former Ibrox supremo will receive a "significant" payout over the dropped charges accusing him of fraud in his Rangers takeover.
douglas.walker@the-sun.co.uk