Lotto chiefs to face MPs over ‘fraud’
CAMELOT chiefs face being quizzed by MPs over the scandal of Lotto rapist Edward Putman’s suspected £2.5million jackpot fraud.
Camelot bosses are to by quizzed by MPs over scandal of Lotto rapist Edward Putman
Furious members of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee want answers over the farce.
MPs Chris Matheson and Ian Lucas plan to ask chairman Damian Green to put the fiasco on the agenda as soon as possible.
Putman received his winnings eight years ago on a ticket that the National Lottery operator now believes was “deliberately damaged”.
The 51-year-old was later unmasked as a convicted rapist but has not been charged in connection with the lottery claim.
But Mr Matheson, Labour MP for Chester and shadow health secretary, said: “I will be speaking to Damian this week to see whether we can talk to Camelot’s senior executives.”
Fellow Labour member Mr Lucas said the committee must investigate after gambling watchdogs fined Camelot £3million for failing to vet the claim.
Pitman is suspected of a £2.5million jackpot fraud after claiming his winning ticket was damaged
Pitman originally request anonymity when he won but his identity was revealed after he was jailed
He said: “We cannot have a situation where the Gambling Commission and Lottery operator appear to cut some private deal.”
We cannot have a situation where the Gambling Commission and Lottery operator appear to cut some private deal
Putman requested anonymity in connection with his win, but his name emerged in 2012 after he was jailed for fiddling £13,000 in benefits.
Details later emerged of his seven-year sentence for rape in 1993.
Sources say Putman may have received inside information about an unclaimed win and convinced Camelot he had the winning ticket.
One of Putman’s associates, Giles Knibbs, 38, who worked in Camelot’s fraud detection department, subsequently committed suicide.
The Gambling Commission fined Camelot after ruling a “deliberately damaged ticket” probably won.
A Camelot spokesman said it accepted the inquiry and had paid the fine, but insisted that “it only concerns the controls that were in place at the time to prevent a fraudulent claim on a deliberately damaged ticket – and is limited to a unique incident alleged to have taken place over seven years ago.”