Maryborough Harness Racing Club officials escape sanctions over secret cash
THEY hid almost $1 million from harness racing bosses in a secret account, but now two country Victorian officials have been cleared.
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MARYBOROUGH Harness Racing Club officials Les Chapman and Peter Egan have escaped further sanctions for keeping almost $1 million in a secret account.
A Harness Racing Victoria integrity council hearing recommended to clear the pair this week.
Mr Egan, the club’s president, and Mr Chapman, the secretary, had failed to declare a bank account to Harness Racing Victoria for almost 30 years.
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The account, which began from the rebates from TAB turnover in 1984, grew to almost $1 million when it was disclosed in 2015.
The men made no financial gain from the account and Mr Chapman fought the charges, claiming the club was already sanctioned in 2016 when it paid $50,000 to Harness Racing Victoria.
Harness Racing Victoria chair Dale Monteith said he would review the independent panel’s recommendation.
“Like any sporting organisation, we don’t believe it is acceptable for any administrator to deliberately falsify accounts and hide revenue to conceal an organisation’s true financial position. It is not acceptable in any form of business,” Mr Monteith said.
“The community has the right to expect the highest level of integrity from sporting administrators and for them to uphold the integrity of the sport they represent.”
Mr Chapman told the Herald Sun in August that the club was being penalised for protecting its members.
“The money was clean and it is owned by the Maryborough Harness Racing Club,” he said at the time.
“It’s very disappointing the board of Harness Racing Victoria has gone down this road.”
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