Ex-AFL umpire hit with new charges over alleged Brownlow Medal betting scandal
An ex-AFL umpire accused of corrupting the betting on two Brownlow Medal counts has been slapped with more charges while another Melbourne man has become the fifth person to be charged over the alleged rort.
A former AFL umpire accused of corrupting the betting on two Brownlow Medal counts has been hit with further charges.
Michael Pell, 34, was this week hit with two new charges relating to the alleged Brownlow Medal betting rort in 2021 and 2022.
Police also charged a 34-year-old Oak Park man on Tuesday afternoon, making him the fifth man charged over the betting scandal.
Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines and Carlton star Patrick Cripps took home AFL’s highest individual honour in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit handed Mr Pell two further charges, now three years after he was arrested over the allegations.
He has been charged with two counts of “engaging in conduct that corrupted a betting outcome of an event contingency by communicating information”.
He will appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 4.
The Oak Park man was hit with a combined 21 charges, including 19 counts of “undertaking a course of conduct to use corrupt conduct information for betting purposes” and two counts of communicating “corrupt conduct information for betting purposes”.
The man has been called to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 12.
Mr Pell was previously charged with six offences on August 25 this year in relation to bets placed on the 2021 Brownlow Medal, including three counts of “corrupt conduct” for betting purposes and three counts of communicating information.
Pell umpired a total of 17 AFL games over his career before the league was tipped off by a betting company about allegedly irregular bets placed on games he was involved in voting for best on ground.
Three other men, including a 32-year-old Doreen man, a 31-year-old Hadfield man and a 35-year-old Reservoir man, were also charged with similar betting offences relating to the Brownlow Medal.
Police charged the three men with a combined 96 offences on August 25 this year, in relation to bets placed on two of the Brownlow Medal counts.
The maximum penalties for the offences – namely cheating at gambling and obtaining financial advantage by deception – carries a ten year prison sentence.
“As this matter is before the courts Victoria Police is unable to provide any further information,” A Victoria Police spokesman added.
Originally published as Ex-AFL umpire hit with new charges over alleged Brownlow Medal betting scandal
