A ‘high flying’ Railtrack manager and the company

A ‘high flying’ Railtrack manager and the company boss accused of handing him ‘bungs’ were cleared today (Fri) after the case against them collapsed.

Railtrack contracts manager Martin Weaver and Gary Hughes, boss of company Ontrack Services (OTS), were said to be involved in a pnds stlng 67,000 kickback scandal.

But they were both found not guilty when new documents dramatically surfaced which showed part of the prosecution case could not be relied upon.

After legal argument prosecutor Mr Jon Whitfield offered no further evidence.

The jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court was then directed by Judge Mota Singh, QC, clear both men.

Mr Whitfield said the documents meant the prosecution could only rely on evidence showing how cash payments were made.

Although he said there remained ‘suspicion’ there was no independent evidence to support the Crown’s case and it was decided not to continue with the trial.

Both defendants maintained throughout that the payments were ‘personal loans’ and had nothing to do with contracts.

Hughes insisted everything was ‘above board’ but agreed he first told detectives he never lent nearly pnds stlng 67,000 to Martin Weaver and later said the cash had been repaid – when it was alleged a pnds stlng 20,000 debt was outstanding.

‘My concern was that people would put two and two together and come up with five and misinterpret it,’ said the 46-year-old.

He admitted he knew police were investigating corruption, but said instead of telling officers they ‘had completely the wrong end of the stick’, he was worried ‘a personal loan, our friendship, and our professional lives’ would be wrongly interpreted.

Hughes added: ‘I thought it was not the concern of the British Transport Police, nothing to do with people, what I did personally and privately.

‘

And he said under later questioning he admitted making loans but lied when he said they had been paid back in full.

‘I didn’t think it was anything to do with the police,’ he said.

‘This is a personal loan.

‘I didn’t want to disclose the amount that had not been paid back because of people’s interpretation of a personal loan.

‘

Weaver had sought advice from his own bosses over ‘rumours’ he had accepted kickbacks and was ‘too close’ to contractors.

The 37-year-old was advised to sign the railway network operator’s declaration he was a ‘good boy’ and had abided by the company’s strict anti-sleaze rules.

Later he requested a move within Railtrack away from the contract area and the risk of being accused of showing favour – but it is said after he enjoyed the fruits of a corrupt relationship with Hughes.

Weaver, of Glascote Lane, Tamworth, Staffs, was cleared of three corruption charges relating to accepting the payments between October 1997 and January 1998.

Hughes, of Palmers Avenue, Grays, Essex, was acquitted of three charges of corruptly making the payments.

ends