Former local football official jailed in US

| 31/10/2017 | 63 Comments
Cayman News Service

Costas Takkas

(CNS): Costas Takkas (61), the former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association, has been sentenced to 15 months in jail for his part in the FIFA corruption scandal, according to reports coming from the US. Takkas worked as Jeffrey Webb’s attaché when the former CIFA president was also VP of FIFA. Takkas, who pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, played a relatively minor role in the massive football scandal compared to Webb, helping to launder $3 million in bribes his boss took during his time at the helm of CONCACAF

Takkas has already served some 10 months in custody when he was held in Switzerland after his arrest in May 2015 and his lawyers were hopeful he would actually serve no more than a few weeks in a US jail. The court also ordered him to pay $3 million restitution, which will be shared with Webb, who pleaded guilty in November 2015 to much more serious charges and who is expected to be sentenced in January.

“It was a massive fraud,” said Judge Pamela Chen, who heard the case. “This is a serious crime.”

Takkas was born in Cyprus and holds both dual UK-Greek nationality but he lived in Cayman, and CNS understands he has Caymanians status and will likely be deported back here after he is released. While he was living in Cayman he became involved in local football, and was working with Webb when he soared to the dizzy heights in international football administration.

In the court he admitted that he “should have known better” and was remorseful about his crime. “It’s not in my nature to cause anybody harm. I love the game of football and I hope the sport learns from this case,” he said.

In the court pleadings in an effort to mitigate Takkas’ sentence to time served, his lawyers described him as a “Peter Pan” like character and “a kind, sweet, gentle, honorable man”.

Prosecutors, however, were having none of it and noted that Takkas didn’t commit the crime “because he wanted to feed starved orphans”.

Meanwhile, Webb remains confined to house arrest, having pleaded guilty to several conspiracy charges, including taking the $3 million bribe from sports marketing companies which Takkas helped launder. Given Takkas’ sentence, any hopes that Webb could evade incarceration as a result of any cooperation he has given prosecutors remains in question.

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Category: Courts, Crime, USA, World News

Comments (63)

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  1. Shadow says:

    Biggest RAT of them all is Jeff Webb…A True coward…prison is where he needs to be with takkas!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah and when you see Webb you be the first one shake his hands saying Jeffo old Buddy Pal how you doing? I’m so glad to see you. I would like to use your contacts to open my business .

      With a big grin on your face being the fake person that you are and always will be.

      If Webb is the biggest Rat – you must be the biggest FOOL and SNAKE that ever crawl in the Cayman Islands.

      Webb don’t have to pay the $3,000.000.00 that $3,000.000.00 has to be divided up with all the people that was arrested and charged. Oops that hurts all of you haters to the core to know that Webb don’t have to pay that back alone.?

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  2. Anonymous says:

    Disgraceful justice system. After so much harm to local and international football, these crooks are walking away with a slap in the hand.

    It will not be long before Jeff Webb is walking around town as is nothing ever happened and controlling football from the outside. As Donald trump would say….SAD

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    • Anonymous says:

      And his brethren here will welcome him back with open arms.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Absolutely, may of they still running football today. They came out with the idea of a 15 team league in a country of 65K people. Certainly, football development is not what they are after. They have now completely rubbish football.

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  3. SSM345 says:

    Webb’s fall guy……..bet you Jeff serves no time in prison whatsoever as his house arrest will be counted as time served.

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    • Anonymous says:

      5 months

      • Anonymous says:

        Costas only got 2 months ? and he will not even serve the two months.Jeff Webb will serve no term.? Please stop stressing over him and get a life You wish that your crappy life was half as good as Jeff Webbs. I don’t see Lee Ramoon doing anything with football. Ramoon is the worst President ever!!

        CNS keep up the good works keep us inform❤️❤️

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        • Anonymous says:

          It would be nice if CNS or any other media outlet would actually pay some atention to what is going on with football and CIFA in particular. Election for president are around the corner and absoluty no reporting about it is anywhere to be found. I understand Mr. Ramoon is running for reelection along with Mr. Alfredo Whittaker and Mr. Renard Moxam. It woud be nice for the general public to know what plans they have, if any.

        • Anonymous says:

          Can bet that you would squeal louder than webb?

    • Anonymous says:

      Nah he goin pick it up jus wait

  4. Anonymous says:

    15 months?? Huh, Pavorotti nah got anyting on him – wata bwoy can sing!

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Jeff webb might get a day in then lol

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  6. Anonymous says:

    And the politicians didn’t know ?
    Of course they do, they’re are part of the same club.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    15 months….hope he sang like a canary for such a slap on the wrist…

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Is this enough to revoke status?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Jamaican Webb is the real criminal here and the one who should be deported .

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      • Anonymous says:

        There you go, the obligatory racist comment. Need I remind you many Caymanians worked there and not one blew the whistle….which would imply complicity

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      • Michel says:

        That is a good questiob. Closer ties to the Cayman Islands. He as affected a lot of Caymanians in the Football development for a long time. Personna non Grata !

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      • Anonymous says:

        You still jealous of Webb??? What is your problem. Are you gay and he would let you in???

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      • "Anonymousir" says:

        i think … if you have status for Cayman. and you get charged and sentence for any serious crimes (such as this) your status should be revoked. You can not run around with Cayman Status and be doing foolishness and not be punished. Revoked them from their status. Not just him tho! Anyone at any level who comes here begging for status. You can get it, but any conviction … you loose it. it would help people stay in check. not 100% because people still feel as if they are above the law … but it would be nice to see the CIG do so.

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      • "Anonymousir" says:

        Revoke his status. and anyone else who has “Cayman Status” and feels they can do what ever. once convicted of any crime. REVOKE IT! They do NOT deserve the privilege of being Caymanian.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You so STUPID? Webb is a born Caymanian he ain’t no paper Caymanian like you!! He can’t and will never be deported from the Cayman Islands this is where he calls HOME!! And he his very proud to be Caymanian born and bred.

          No matter what the man born YA. Webb came here by Pain and you came here by Plane. Webb coming back YA by plane and you going to have to leave YA on the same Plane.

          Jeff Webb is as popular as Princess Diana buoy he gets a lot of publicity free press all that he don’t have to pay for thanks to you and the many others.

          Webb will soon be a FREE man go Jeffo. stop wasting your energy on this man. He not even wasting no sleep over you cave man.

          CNS the BESt!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        I say DEPORT them both. We cannot continue this trend. Good old boys club meeds a overhaul and public exposure. To many secrets – to much corruption.

    • Anonymous says:

      Unless a Cabinet Grant, it should be revoked. He will also have to face CarePay charges…

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      • Anonymous says:

        Isn’t Jeff Webb a Caymanian?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Cabinet grants can also be revoked – it is just that cabinet has to revoke them.

      • Anonymous says:

        Face care pay charges what charges? Yeah if he face those charges and he have to talk
        Half cayman going end up in prison. Including you. Be careful what you wish for little man.

        Webb has the baddest lawyers ever yep they will be flying in to REPRESENT- coming all the way from LONDON ENGLAND, ZURICH SWTZERLAND & the USA. This is no hear say this is true facts. Get Ready For some good court action!!

    • Michel says:

      It can be for serous crimes. Would have to be charged here also i believe. Use to be a 25 year time period also if memory serve me right please correct me if i’m wrong !.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Costas Allotus

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  10. IMMIGRATION CZAR says:

    Dear Government

    Please revoke the Caymanian Staus of Costas Takkas immediately and all others convicted of crimes aboard and in the Cayman Islands that hold Status and Permanent Residence. You are of poor character and must be deemed persona non grada.

    None of them deserve the privilege of Caymanian Status and PR for the crimes they have committed. They have by their own actions contributed to the poor reputation of the country by living up to the stereo type of shady businessman who live in the Cayman Islands.

    If you have been convicted of any serious offense including any white collar crime the individual must lose the right to be called Caymanian or hold PR and call the Cayman Islands home. In life there are consequences for actions.

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    • anonymous says:

      They can’t take Status away if he “got the good kind”

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      • BELONGER says:

        The McKeeva Cayman Status give away in 2003 to Tom, Dick, Harry, cat, dog, iguana etc….

        We are paying dearly for it today…… whether directly or indirectly in Social Services monthly pay outs, Unemployment, costly School Expansion projects, out of control Health Care costs, Crime, Education etc….

        When you have someone who resides just three months in the Islands (sufficient to get a police record) and then gets Caymanian Status by simply placing your name on a piece of paper, this is what happens in our society.

        We shouldn’t be surprised of the characters who walk amongst us.

        We have our own homegrown criminals, no need to ad anymore from elsewhere.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Every apple cart has a bad apple, including Caymans apple cart, otherwise Northward would have a far smaller population, but as a “Belonger” (stupid term BTW, no one ever actually truly came from here) you just got to go blaming someone who is actually Caymanian legally (albeit not in your illegal view).

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      • Anonymous says:

        Nonsense. Even cabinet status grants are revocable if you are committed of an offence.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Wrong. You is incorrect about that 6:40am

          • Anonymous says:

            Read the law before you mislead people. Cabinet status grants are absolutely revocable.

            28. (1) Where the grantee of the right to be Caymanian or of Caymanian status under this or any earlier law is convicted by any court in the Islands or elsewhere of an offence-
            (a) for which he is sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment
            of twelve months or more, other than for non-payment of a fine;
            and in respect of which conviction his rights of appeal have been
            exhausted; or
            (b) which, in the opinion of the grantor, was made possible by,
            facilitated by or connected with the grant,

            the grantor may revoke the grant on his own motion.

            (2) Where the court referred to in subsection (1) is a foreign court, the
            offence committed must have been an offence that would be recognised as an offence in the Islands

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        • Veritas says:

          6.40am Sorry but YOU are wrong. A grant of Caymanian Status as of RIGHT as a result of registration as a citizen of the U.K under the British Nationality Act 1948 and pursuant to Section 15 (F) of the Caymanian Protection Law 1971 is irrevocable. Such a person is not a “paper Caymanian”, and cannot be deported in any circumstances.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Ummm, the current laws are the BNA 1981 and The Immigration Law 2015. Please do try to pay attention.

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            • Veritas says:

              Ummm, 4.32pm please pay even more attention.The current laws do not apply to the grants issued under the legislation I referred to which were the laws at the time they were issued.

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      • Michel says:

        I think he does .

    • West bay Premier says:

      Immigration Czar , I think that the Citizens of the Cayman Island can legally protest that his Status be revoked .

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      • IMMIGRATION CZAR says:

        I am referring to ALL Status and PR holders who are convicted and sentenced to serve a custodial sentence for over 12 months either at HMPS Northward or anywhere else. Their right to call Cayman home must be revoked immediately.

        The would lose the right to be citizens in the USA, Canada, UK and deported why should it be any different in the Cayman Islands?

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    • #CaymaniansHaveNoRightsIfTheyDontKnowTheirRights says:

      Definition czar:
      “A person appointed by government to advise on and coordinate policy in a particular area”

      Wow. Be careful not to lose your immigration job if this is the type of advice you proffer, IMMIGRATION CZAR.

      Otherwise clearly you would know that Section 28 Revocation on Conviction of the Immigration Law (2015 Revision) states that the overseas conviction MUST also be an offence in the Cayman Islands which automatically eliminates certain white collar convictions like income tax offences.
      “(1) Where the grantee of the right to be Caymanian or of Caymanian status under this or any earlier law is convicted by any court in the Islands or elsewhere of an offence, the grantor may revoke the grant on his own motion.
      (2) Where the court referred to in subsection (1) is a foreign court, the offence committed must have been an offence that would be recognised as an offence in the Islands.”

      Then you have the Cayman Islands Constitution Order (2009) which states that if the overseas conviction is NOT an offence in the Cayman Islands, it’s for naught.
      Section 91(2)(c) states that “no account shall be taken of a sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court outside the Cayman Islands other than a sentence on conviction of an offence constituted by conduct which, if it occurred within the Cayman Islands, would constitute an offence punishable under the law of the Cayman Islands by imprisonment of twelve months or any greater punishment.”

      Alas, you also have that irritating thing called “Human Rights”, where the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights mandates that there can be no punishment without law, where one cannot be punished for a crime in a country if it isn’t against a law in that country.
      Article 11 states that “no one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence”.

      Other than applying all of these laws which are binding on the Crown to any Caymanian so inclined to cite them, your argument otherwise is sound.

      #CaymaniansHaveNoRightsIfTheyDontKnowTheirRights

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      • Anonymous says:

        He was convinced for money laundering conspiracy, which to my knowledge,
        is a crime in Cayman.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Nah 1.25pm, its compulsory here…

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        • Anonymous says:

          You better learn to spell convicted your spelling bad man. Wa ya tryn say.

          ” He was convinced for money laundering conspiracy” quoted after you.
          You need to learn to use spell check. Or a dictionary old Buddy Man.

        • #CaymaniansHaveNoRightsIfTheyDontKnowTheirRights says:

          Noted, 1:25pm.

          However, my response was to correct the IMMIGRATION CZAR’s statement that a conviction stemming from ANY white collar crime should mandate the revocation of that person’s Caymanian Status, which is neither supported by primary nor secondary legislation.

          “If you have been convicted of any serious offense including any white collar crime the individual must lose the right to be called Caymanian or hold PR and call the Cayman Islands home.”-IMMIGRATION CZAR

          As such, the IMMIGRATION CZAR’s position would be defeated on application since there are certain white collar offences and convictions that are excluded from automatic Status revocation.

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      • Anonymous says:

        #longhastagslookstupid

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