Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-Southern Water CEO Charged Over Water Quality Test Fraud
Ex-Southern Water CEO Charged Over Water Quality Test Fraud
11 Sep
Summary
- Former Southern Water CEO Matthew Wright faces conspiracy to defraud charges.
- Allegations involve manipulating water quality tests between 2012-2017.
- Potential fines avoided could exceed £45 million.
Former Southern Water CEO Matthew Wright, 60, appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Friday. He faces charges of conspiracy to defraud, accused of manipulating water quality tests to avoid environmental penalties.
Wright, alongside former employees Philip Barker, Clive Massey, and Mark Gregory, allegedly conducted artificial 'no-flow events' between January 2012 and December 2017. This self-monitoring manipulation aimed to prevent failing environmental checks.
The alleged fraud could have allowed Southern Water to evade fines totaling £45 million or more. Three additional defendants, Mark Butler, David James, and Terry Stephens, also appeared in court facing the same charges.
District Judge Stephen Leake deemed the charges related and sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court for a hearing on October 9. Wright, Gregory, and Butler were present in court, while the others attended via video link. All seven defendants were granted unconditional bail.
