Tesco boss Dave Lewis may have to appear as a witness for the prosecution in the fraud case involving three of the retailer’s former directors, it emerged today.
Former finance director Carl Rogberg, former MD Chris Bush and John Scouler, former commercial director for food, had a pre-trial hearing at London’s Southwark Crown Court today, charged with fraud by abuse of position and false accounting.
The Serious Fraud Office launched a criminal investigation into the scandal, which hit Tesco in October 2014 after the company admitted overstating its profits by £263m, a figure later upped to £326m.
Lewis is among 10 witnesses lined up by the prosecution, The Guardian reported today. Tesco declined to comment.
The retailer has already agreed a settlement with the SFO in relation to the accounting scandal, under which it will pay a £129m fine.
It has also agreed with the Financial Conduct Authority to pay around £85m in compensation to investors affected by the profit overstatement.
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