Birmingham boss free to travel - Soccerway
Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung has been granted permission by a Hong Kong court to travel to the United Kingdom.
Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung has been granted permission by a Hong Kong court to travel to the United Kingdom.
Yeung, the executive director of Birmingham International Holdings, bought the club for a reported fee of 81 million pounds in October 2009.
He was arrested in his native Hong Kong in June charged with money laundering, and was previously denied permission to travel due to concerns he might abscond.
At a hearing in Hong Kong's district court on Tuesday, Judge Stanley Chan granted Yeung permission to travel to the UK between September 15 and 19, to allow him to meet board members and new manager Chris Hughton.
Justice Chan suggested Yeung should conduct teleconferencing with company management, but lawyer Clive Grossman successfully argued his client's importance to the club required him to appear in person.
Yeung's bail was doubled to 625,000 pounds.
"As director and chairman of his company, Yeung holds a duty to his shareholders in England," Grossman told the court.
"He has to speak to his board, players, fans and management. He's the Alex Ferguson, as it were, of Birmingham City."
Grossman also claimed Yeung did not represent a flight risk due to his business interests in Hong Kong.
"He is a high-profile person, a well-known personality in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom."
"There is not the slightest chance of (him) absconding," Grossman said.
Yeung faces five counts of 'dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence.' According to Grossman, Yeung has denied all charges.
A review of the case is scheduled for December 7, with the trial expected to begin early next year.
Birmingham, who were relegated from the English Premier League last term, sit 21st in the Championship table with one win from four league matches this season.
30 Aug, 2011--
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