Former Premier League and Charlton Athletic defender Richard Rufus appeared at court over an alleged multi-million pound fraud conning investors into a “low risk” foreign currency exchange.
He turned up at Southwark Crown Court charged with fraud by false representation, possession of £5.3 million of criminal property, and carrying on a regulated activity when not an authorised or exempt person.
The scheme allegedly went on between 2007 and 2012 with the total amount is believed to be £8,682,343.
Richard Rufus fraud hearing adjourned https://t.co/Z4jrAJ0d6d
— Matthew Wildish (@MatthewWildish) September 6, 2019
Rufus, who made 288 appearances for Charlton before then retiring in 2004, was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and in 2015 left his position as the Addicks’ Youth Development Phase Coach, saw his case adjourned on Thursday after he turned up without a lawyer.
He told the judge he had been experiencing “issues” with lawyers and said: “I am proposing an adjournment for four weeks to secure a legal team.”
The former played that was named in the 1995-96 and 1999-2000 First Division and PFA Team of the Year claimed some lawyers told him they “do not do” legal aid so they could not represent him.
At the pre-trial preparation hearing he was given a four-week adjournment to secure legal representation, Judge David Tomlinson also provisionally ordered a trial starting on the 8th of June next year.
Tomlinson expressed his frustration at how the case was taking, he said as quoted by The London Economic: frustrated at how long the case was taking, said: “It’s said a lot of people, some of them you know quite well, invested a lot of money with you and that money has disappeared.
“I imagine there’s quite a considerable deficit in this case.
“You were adamant that you were not guilty of any wrongdoing.
“We’re now four years down the line and it does not look as though we can do very much today.”
“You must be here on October 3, you must be ready today that you are guilty or not guilty at that appearance.
“You have known for a very long time that you were highly likely to be accused of these offences.”
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