Birmingham City Owner Not Allowed to Return to England

Carson Yeung, the Birmingham City soccer club owner’s attempt to leave Honk Kong for the UK was blocked by a magistrate in the Chinese City

David Dufton, Acting Principal Magistrate, told Yeung today to apply to a higher court to change the terms of his bail and transferred the case to Hong Kong’s District Court. A hearing date was scheduled for Aug. 30.

Yeung, 51, was charged with five counts of money laundering involving HK$721.3 million ($93 million). He was told to surrender his travel documents as part of the conditions of bail that was granted June 30.

Yeung is needed in the UK as it is a busy time for player transfers and at the moment Birmingham City are losing out.

Yeung was released in June after posting over $500,000 in cash and just under $400,000 in cash guarantees. Each charge he faces is punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a fine of as much as $650,000.

Shares were suspended at Birmingham City by June 30.

Birmingham was relegated from the Premier League last season, three months after winning the League Cup, its first major trophy in 48 years.

Yeung bought Birmingham City for a fee of $131.5 million in October 2009.