BY ORVILLE CLARKE, Freelance Writer
Jockey Kieren Fallon leaves Bishopsgate Police Station in London after being charged yesterday. Police charged former champion jockey Fallon on Monday with conspiracy to defraud gamblers on an online betting site in a long-running horse race fixing investigation, British police said. - REUTERS
SIX-TIME ENGLISH champion jockey Kieren Fallon was among five people charged on Sunday morning as part of an investigation into alleged horse racing corruption, police said.
According to an article on the Sporting Life website in London, Fallon, along with fellow riders Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, were charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers.
Former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers was also charged with conspiracy to defraud and an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Joanne Richardson, who is believed to be Rodgers' partner, is accused of an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Police said the charges were in relation to allegations of fixing the outcome of races between December 1, 2002 and September 2, 2004.
Fallon, 41, arrived at the police station at 9:15 a.m. wearing jeans and a dark top, and had slipped inside the front entrance without speaking to waiting reporters.
He left the police station just 20 minutes later accompanied by another man dressed in a suit, thought to be his lawyer. Fallon made no comment as he was rushed out of the building into a silver Mercedes.
Another of those due to answer bail, Middleham trainer Karl Burke, also entered the police station at around 9:45 a.m. but left within 15 minutes. He later confirmed that he had been released from bail, saying, "I was released without charge."
The Horseracing Regulatory Authority are expected to make a statement this week concerning the licences of jockeys Fallon, Lynch and Williams.
Although Fallon can be prevented from riding in Britain, he will not face any licence problems in Ireland where he is number one jockey to the powerful Ballydole trainer, Aidan O'Brien.
Dennis Egan, chief executive of the Irish Turf Club, said: "Basically the situation in Ireland is that he will be able to continue to ride. The licensing committee will obviously note what has happened, but as far as we are concerned Kieren Fallon is innocent until proven guilty."
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