Former Southern Water chief executive Matthew Wright is charged with conspiracy to defraud over allegations relating to water and wastewater quality testing. Multiple outlets report that Wright faces the charge alongside three other former Southern Water employees. The criminal proceedings are brought by the Environment Agency, and the allegations involve a scheme to manipulate test results used for regulatory compliance. According to reports, the Environment Agency says the group allegedly conspired to defraud the Environment Agency and the water regulator Ofwat. The Guardian adds that the alleged conduct relates to wastewater testing, including the creation of artificial “no-flow” events at wastewater treatment works, intended to affect compliance checks. The alleged period of the wrongdoing is reported as between 2012 and 2017. The outlets agree that the charges concern alleged rigging or manipulation of water quality or wastewater testing used in oversight and enforcement. The reports do not include details of court dates, pleas, or the defendants’ responses, and the allegations have not been tested in court.