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Former Newcastle and Sunderland footballer, Michael Chopra, is set to be called to the witness stand during a 750,000 cocaine trial involving an alleged “drugs factory” on Wearside, England.
Police officers in 2010 discovered £50,000 in cash hidden in a Jaguar they claimed was drug money. That money, according to authorities, actually belonged to Chopra, who had mounting debts and turned to loan sharks in order to pay them off.
Joseph Lewins, 55, of Malvern Road, Washington, Daniel Chisholm, 51, then of Franklin Street, Sunderland, Christopher Bacon, 34, of Wendover Close, Witherwack and John Somerville, 53, of Sheringham Avenue, Kenton, all deny conspiracy to supply class A drugs tied to the “drugs factory”.
Richard Bloomfield, an attorney representing defendant John Somerville, told Sky News: “That £50,000 that was found in the car was nothing to do with drugs.
"That £50,000 was Chopra's. It was to pay off a gambling debt, to pay them off. That was what John Somerville was doing on November 11 2010, he was not buying drugs, he was paying Michael Chopra's gambling debts off."
The striker is currently signed on with FC Blackpool.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
