- Matthew Wright , the former chief executive of Southern Water , along with three other ex-employees – Philip Barker, Clive Massey, and Mark Gregory – has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency (EA) and water regulator Ofwat .
- The charges allege that between 2012 and 2017, they conspired to manipulate water quality tests, specifically through 'artificial no-flow events at waste water treatment works,' to avoid millions of pounds in penalties.
- Wright's legal challenge to dismiss the summons, arguing the EA lacked the power to issue it, was rejected by two senior judges on Wednesday, leading to the lifting of previous reporting restrictions.
- The case against the four individuals was scheduled to be heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court on July 14.
- Separately, Southern Water itself faces dozens of charges for failing to comply with environmental permit conditions between 2013 and 2017 at various wastewater treatment works.
IN FULL
Ex-Southern Water boss charged over ‘plan to manipulate quality tests’
