Ex-Rangers chief Charles Green wins £6.3m payout

Charles Green was arrested six years ago over the "alleged fraudulent acquisition" of Rangers

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green is to get £6.3m in compensation for being wrongfully prosecuted by the Crown Office.

Mr Green was one of several people arrested during a fraud probe relating to the sale of Rangers.

The case was abandoned and the 68-year-old was later told he had been subject to a "malicious" fraud prosecution.

A compensation bid has now been settled with Mr Green accepting £6.3m and his legal costs from the public purse.

The deal, which came moments before an eight-day case was due to start at the Court of Session, is one of several compensation payments agreed by the Crown Office relating to the bungled prosecution.

• Inquiry into wrongful prosecution of Rangers administrators

• Ex-Rangers chief Green to get compensation over 'malicious' fraud probe

Administrators David Whitehouse and Paul Clark settled out of court with the Crown Office in December in a package worth £24m.

A judge-led inquiry into the failings of the fraud probe over the sale of Rangers is to be held once all related legal proceedings have concluded.

Greg Whyte, of Jones Whyte Law, representing Mr Green, said his client was "very relieved" the case had been settled given the physical and mental impact of the wrongful arrest.

He told BBC Scotland: "He's been through an ordeal over the last six years so he's looking forward to gaining some closure and moving on with his life away from this case.

"I would describe him as a battle weary, he simply wants to move on from this."

Mr Whyte said Mr Green would help the public inquiry "when the time arises" but for now just wanted to "close this chapter in his life".

'Egregious wrong'

Mr Green's QC, Garry Borland told judge Lord Tyre that his client could still claim more money from the Crown Office.

He told the court: "Mr Green was the victim of an egregious wrong at the hands of the prosecuting authorities.

"It will be for the public inquiry to examine how this malicious prosecution of Mr Green could possibly be allowed to happen."

The former Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, made a public apology to Mr Green in June

Mr Green was unveiled as the new man behind Rangers in 2012 but stepped down the following year.

In June, he and director Imran Ahmad both received an apology from James Wolffe QC, then head of Scotland's prosecution service.

Mr Wolffe said: "Between 2015 and 2016, Mr Ahmad and Mr Green were prosecuted in the High Court concerning matters associated with Rangers Football Club.

"They should not have been prosecuted and, as Lord Advocate and head of the system for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, I have apologised unreservedly that they were."

'Eye-watering scale'

Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman Russell Findlay MSP, said: "It is sickening to see many more millions of pounds being lost from precious public funds.

"But the eye-watering scale of these compensation pay-outs are entirely due to the sustained and serious wrongdoing of the Crown Office who knowingly tried to jail innocent men.

"The malicious prosecution scandal will be a permanent stain on our justice system."

The Scottish government said it remained committed to a judge-led inquiry into the cases involving Mr Green and others investigated as part of the Rangers fraud probe.

A spokesperson said: "As the first minister made clear to parliament as recently as 17 June, the Scottish government supports both parliamentary and wider public accountability when it comes to these cases.

"In February, the parliament passed a motion in support of a judge-led inquiry. The government supports and is committed to that.

"That inquiry can happen only when related legal proceedings are completed. Legal proceedings on the cases remain live, but there will be an inquiry once they have concluded."