The corruption case against Monaco-based football agent Christophe Henrotay built momentum on Wednesday, January 29, as Belgian police searched the home of Standard Liege chairman Bruno Venanzi and the club’s Sclessin stadium.
Venanzi is suspected of irregularities in a number of transfers that involved Henrotay, according to insideworldfootball.com. Authorities are interested in commissions Henrotay received. The Standard Liege president is also suspected of money laundering and tax fraud. Henrotay has been described as an influential figure at the club.
“My client is still waiting for his extradition from Monaco,” said Henrotay’s lawyer Dimitri de Béco. “He does not know what Mr Venanzi is being accused of, but he confirms that he has not been involved in any form of fraud, including with Mr Venanzi.”
Standard issued a statement saying that the searches took place: “By order of a Brussels investigating judge at the club’s facilities and the residence of president Bruno Venanzi in the context of an ongoing investigation into player agent Christophe Henrotay.”
“Through their close cooperation with the judicial authorities, Standard and their president want to help as much as possible with the progress of the investigation. The club hopes there will be clarity very soon.”
In Monaco, the police seized €7 million, 3 luxury sports cars and 2 apartments when the agent was arrested last summer. Henrotay was released by Monaco’s appeal court on bail of 250,000 euros on September 23 and the Belgian authorities have applied for his extradition from Monaco.
ORIGINAL SOURCES: brusselstimes.com, insideworldfootball.com, local reports PHOTO: Christophe Henrotay
