Finnish entrepreneur in Man United takeover bid quizzed by police over business

25 March 2023 , 21:54

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Finnish tycoon Thomas Zilliacus wants to buy Manchester United (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Finnish tycoon bidding to buy Manchester United has faced a police quiz over his business.

Thomas Zilliacus, 69, this week joined the race to purchase the world’s biggest club from the Glazer family.

But in 2018, Singapore cops raided his e-commerce firm YuuZoo Corporation, seizing documents and computers.

Mr Zilliacus said Singapore Police’s Commercial Affairs Department had been looking into whether the company made statements that “misled the market” when he was chairman.

He is unsure whether the probe, which he claimed was triggered by a “groundless” complaint to the Singapore Stock Exchange, is still ongoing.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

Mr Zilliacus, who quit YuuZoo following the raid, said five years of investigations and the Singapore Stock Exchange’s refusal to engage in any dialogue meant the firm had effectively been “destroyed”.

A number of businessman are in the running to take over the club (PA)

Of his bid to buy Man Utd, he said: “My group will finance half of the sum needed to take over the club, and will ask fans… to participate for the other half.”

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani are also in the running.

Simon Murphy