Herne Bay Councillor goes on trial for corruption alongside propery developer
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by Keith Hunt
A Canterbury city councillor and an
estate agent and property developer have gone on trial on
corruption charges.
Cllr Roger Matthews (pictured
left) corruptly received benefit by way of unpaid rent as a
reward for promoting the interests of Julian Brealy and two of his
companies, Herne Bay Golf Club and Hollanby Estates Ltd, it was
alleged.
"Mr Matthews effectively lived rent
free," said prosecutor Anthony Haycroft. "That is an offence - for
receiving a corrupt gift."
Brealy, 51, was accused of giving a
corrupt gift by letting 58-year-old Matthews live rent free as a
reward for almost six years between May 1 2002 and July 16
2008.
Maidstone Crown Court heard
Matthews was elected to represent Herne Bay Ward in 1995. In 2003,
he represented neighbouring Greenhill and Eddington and sat on a
planning committee.
He had been voted onto the decision
making council executive in May 2002.
Matthews had lived at a flat in
Herne Bay since 1996. His landlord was Hollanby Estates. Brealy was
managing director and a shareholder of family business
Hollanby.
The company had an office at Herne
Bay Golf Club, where Brealy was a director and shareholder.
Mr Haycroft said Matthews on
occasions failed to declare an interest when Brealy's business
interests applied for planning permission for various projects.
"We are entitled to expect our
local politicians to act properly and not act corruptly," he
said.
Matthews, of Beltinge Road, Herne
Bay, and Brealy, of Mandarin Lane, Herne Bay, deny corruption.
The trial continues.
Tuesday, March 02 2010
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