Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa has been threatened with a contempt charge after being accused of “misleading” Parliament.
Issa is facing the threat after he submitted evidence to the business and trade Committee that reportedly held inaccuracies, according to The Telegraph.
An Asda spokesman claimed the incorrect information was given to the committee in “error”.
In a letter sent to the billionaire on 13th November, the committee’s chair Liam Byrne said: “I am disappointed to have to point out to you that submitting inaccurate information to a select committee is tantamount to misleading the House of Commons and this is prima facie a contempt of Parliament, which is a very serious matter.
“I should add that any contempt of Parliament is significantly compounded by the fact that you have seen fit not to inform the committee itself of the errors in your letter – leaving us to find out about this matter from a newspaper report”.
The politician also repeated concerns over Asda’s complex business structure, and said Issa must give further clarity on the supermarket’s ownership before the end of November.
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A spokesman for the grocery giant said: “We have received the committee’s letter dated 13th November and are responding to them”.
Last month, the Issa brothers admitted to providing inaccurate information to MPs about the intricate offshore ownership structure known as “Bellis” that they established for Asda, following their £6.8bn acquisition in 2021.
The pair also recently denied taking money out of the supermarket, as they defended the the retailer’s complex ownership structure.
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