The former CEO of online gaming company Mansion Group Gibraltar has been sentenced to a year in prison for contempt of court.

Earlier this year, 44 year old Karel Mañasco was found in contempt of court for breaching multiple freezing orders.

An ongoing legal case against him claims Mr Mañasco misappropriated approximately 5 million pounds of the company’s money.

Mansion Gibraltar accuses Karel Mañasco of breaching his duties at the company and making unauthorised transactions – using company money to buy luxury goods, paying himself an excessive salary and bonuses, and authorising suspicious transfers to third parties. He denies the claims.

In September 2022, Mansion filed a claim seeking damages of approximately £5 million pounds. 

It also demanded he account for all the benefits he may have received as a result of his position.

A worldwide freezing order was imposed on him in March 2023, which he then breached on multiple occasions.

Two contempt of court applications were filed by Mansion in respect of those breaches – and the Supreme Court found him guilty of 5 out of 7 counts. 

In his sentence today, Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said some of the breaches were so serious that only a custodial sentence would suffice – especially for making a false statement, and the transfer of just over £400,000 outside the jurisdiction.

The judge sentenced Mr Mañasco to a year in prison, although this may be reduced by six months if he returns the £400,000.

Mr Mañasco was again not present in court for the sentencing – with the Chief Justice issuing a bench warrant for his arrest, saying he is entitled to submit an appeal within the next fortnight.