Bookmaker Brian Mann charged by stewards

Bookmaker Brian Mann has been charged with breaches of the rules over almost three years including allegations of $1.1 million in fictitious bet-backs.

Mann is facing three charges under Australian Racing Rule 175 (a) which deals with dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing, and another under AR175 (p) for failing to comply with a request from stewards.

In the first charge, Racing Victoria stewards allege that between July 1, 2013 and May 11, 2016, 315 fictitious bets with a turnover of $199,032 and a gross loss of $941,237 were recorded by Mann in the course of conducting his bookmaking business and reported to Racing Victoria.

The second charge alleges between the same period, 507 bet-backs totalling $1,103,000 were recorded by Mann in the course of conducting his bookmaking business and reported to Racing Victoria.

It is alleged these bet-backs were fictitious, in that there was no counter-party to the bet-back, or placed by Mann through an undisclosed non-licensed individual without a ticket or confirmation.

Mann is also charged with placing an undisclosed and unrecorded number of bet-backs with an unknown and non-licensed individual, and for failing to comply with a stewards request to identify the individual.

No date has been set for a hearing into the charges before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.