Billionaire Tory donor, 50, appears in court charged with bribing Antiguan politician following National Crime Agency probe
A Conservative Party donor and a property developer who met the King and late Queen has appeared in court accused of bribing a foreign government minister.
Hardip Singh Virdee, also known as Peter Singh, allegedly bribed Michael Asot from January 2015 to July 2017 when he was the minister for tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.
The 50-year-old the runs the £4 billion B&S Property group in Mayfair, London and PV Energy Limited.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court where he was bailed to attend Southwark Crown Court on 20 June for a preparatory hearing.
According to charges brought by the National Crime Agency, Virdee: 'bribed a foreign public official, namely Asot Michael, with the intention of influencing his capacity as a foreign public official.'
His company PV Energy Limited faces an accusation of 'failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences.'
Hardip Singh Virdee allegedly bribed an Antiguan government minister from January 2015 to July 2017
The 50-year-old the runs the £4 billion B&S Property group in Mayfair, London and PV Energy Limited.
He is a prominent figure on social media with 260,000 followers on Instagram- which he uses to promote himself as a mentor in the finance world.
Virdee has posted pictures of himself claiming to be taken next to members of the Royal Family including the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and the Duke of Edinburgh.
He also posts pictures of himself jetting across the world, inside expensive cars such as Rolls Royces and at prestigious events with the Army.
He runs The Virdee Foundation, a charity which helps vulnerable women and children.
At the next hearing it is expected that Virdee will enter a plea to the allegation.