Jeffrey
I did a LexisNexis news search to try an find that article. My search terms were "Zwebner" and "mafia links." There were two hits which I have posted below. While reference was made to an article from the The Mail on Sunday which alleged Mafia links I could not find the referenced article.
Copyright 1997 M2 Communications Ltd.
TELECOMWORLDWIRE
January 7, 1997
LENGTH: 187 words
HEADLINE: CAMELOT INVOLVED WITH BANKRUPT'-LED COMPANY REPORTS NEWSPAPER
DATELINE: UK
BODY:
K National Lottery operator CAMELOT has signed a GBP 15m deal with CardCall to have Lottery-branded phone cards distributed. It is claimed in a newspaper report that Camelot knew that Michael Zwebner, a founder of the company, is an undischarged bankrupt. The Mail on Sunday published several allegations about Zwebner and Camelot says that they are to investigate his business affairs. Zwebner allegedly, according to the newspaper report, has mafia links and according to Insolvency service Records is a current bankrupt with debts of GBP 48,000 and through his firms and previous business ventures is said to be in even deeper financial trouble. Although Zwebner claims he is only an employee of CardCall it is alleged that he controls it in breach of company law.
LOAD-DATE: May 28, 1997
Copyright 1997 Haymarket Publishing Services Ltd
Marketing
January 9, 1997
LENGTH: 255 words
HEADLINE: Camelot probes card deal chief
BYLINE: By HARRIET MARSH
BODY:
The pitfalls of a partnership with an unknown brand were brought home to Camelot this week when new information surfaced of the alleged unsavoury business dealings of CardCall founder and National Lottery Enterprises partner Michael Zwebner.
Camelot has ordered Robin Bowler, sales and marketing manager for NLE, to lead an inquiry into the business record of Zwebner, who signed a reputed pounds 15m licensing deal last September to produce National Lottery-branded pre-paid phone cards.
The inquiry follows allegations that Zwebner, an undischarged bankrupt with personal debts of pounds 48,000, has a string of business debts relating to two companies selling phone cards in the US. It is also alleged that Zwebner has mafia links there.
The inquiry will investigate the accusations, made by the Mail on Sunday, and ask how the Lottery operator, which has its every move monitored by the press and the regulator Oflot, lent its name to the partnership.
Camelot signed a licensing agreement with CardCall in August. Although unrelated to Camelot's marketing partnership scheme, the deal came at a time when it was struggling to secure appropriate partners.
CardCall, formed in August 1995, had yet to produce an audited set of accounts. At the time, Zwebner said he planned an Alternative Investment Market float to raise pounds 2.3m for ads. Both have so far failed to materialise.
'We are conducting an internal inquiry and cannot comment on specific allegations,' said a Camelot spokeswoman.
LOAD-DATE: September 22, 2000 |
