Latest news with #ProceedsofCrimeAct2002
Western Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire company director sentenced for fraud during Covid
Mr Zahid Afzal of Haverfordwest fraudulently claimed extra Covid bounce back loans for his phone sales and merchandise companies. When appearing at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, June 12, Mr Afzal was sentenced for three counts of fraud by false representation and was handed a two-year suspended sentence, and 300 hours of unpaid work. Insolvency Service Chief Investigator David Snasdell said: 'It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to. 'Not satisfied with the substantial funds he had legitimately received, he went on to lie on applications and exaggerate his companies' turnovers. 'His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers' money to think again.' The director of Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd had already received Covid loans for both companies legitimately – totalling £52,500 – when he applied for three more. The 37-year-old, from Haverfordwest, falsely claimed the applications were the first he had made and exaggerated the turnover of each company. He then received three additional loans of £50,000 each – one for Phone Bits Ltd and two for Phones Onn Ltd – between May and November 2020. The Insolvency Service investigation did not find any wrongdoing with the use of his initial loans for Phones Onn Ltd (£20,000) and Phone Bits (£32,500), which he was entitled to and were used entirely for business purposes. But he moved most of the £150,000 he received from his second round of loans to personal accounts despite stating they were for business purposes. The Bounce Back loan scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the Government. The loans were made on the condition that they were not to be used for personal purposes, but could be used, for example, to purchase a company asset such as a vehicle, if it would provide an economic benefit to the business. The money lent to a company had to be paid back, over six or 10 years, with payments starting 12 months after the company received the loan. The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Glasgow Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Disgraced lawyer from Kilmacolm can't attend court date due to wedding
Iain Robertson, 71, told judge Olga Pasportnikov on Monday that he wouldn't be able to be present for a proceeds of crime case on June 23, 2025. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that this was because he was a guest at a marriage ceremony on the same day. Robertson, who is representing himself in a bid by the Crown to recover money he made from a £1.5 million laundering racket, told judge Pasportnikov: 'I'm on home leave for a wedding that day. I have a week of home leave every month.' Robertson, of Kilmacolm, is currently the subject of an action brought by prosecutors under proceeds of crime laws. Robertson was given eight years in January 2023. He and two other corrupt solicitors - Alistair Blackwood, 69, and David Lyons - used their law firm Robertson & Ross in Paisley to launder cash obtained illegally. The trio acted alongside Mohammed Aziz, 63, and Robert Ferguson, 69, in a course of criminal activity. The five men were sentenced following a nine-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow before judge Lord Richardson. READ MORE: Man made £442k in ill-gotten gains during time as drug dealer The trial was the culmination of a process which had been triggered by a Law Society probe into activities at the firm. They were convicted of fraud and multiple charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Robertson, Lyons and Aziz were also convicted on charges of being involved in serious organised crime. All were sent to prison. Prosecutors told jurors the case centred on four transactions carried out between May 2015 and July 2016. The first transaction involved a £79,340 stolen cheque due to be paid to a law firm in Jersey. The next centred on £240,000 from a fraudulent house sale in London. The third transaction saw £985,000 stolen from the hacked bank account of an individual. And the final illegal activity was uncovered after Robertson claimed to be acting for a man who wanted to sell his home in Essex. READ MORE: Four men jailed after £6m corruption and bribery probe at health boards The court heard that the "seller" was said to be staying at a flat that turned out to be Ferguson's address. A total of £181,786 was made from the fraudulent sale. In each transaction, the proceeds were funnelled through the client bank account held by Robertson's firm in Paisley, Robertson & Ross. Limited and false records were created to make them appear legitimate. Fake papers and fake IDs - including a passport and driver's licence - were collated in a bid to cover up the crimes. The Law Society raised concerns about several of these transactions before alerting police to the potential illegal activity. The trial heard that lawyer Robertson, who has been suspended by the Law Society along with Blackwood, was at the heart of the money-laundering scheme since he had access to his firm's client account. Judge Pasportnikov fixed a hearing in the proceeds case to take place on June 30, 2025.
STV News
09-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Disgraced lawyer 'can't attend court hearing due to wedding'
A disgraced lawyer serving time for money laundering can't attend court for a hearing as he's attending a wedding on the same day, a judge heard. Iain Robertson, 71, told judge Olga Pasportnikov on Monday that he wouldn't be able present for a proceeds of crime case on June 23. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that this was because he was a guest at a marriage ceremony on the same day. Robertson, who is representing himself in a bid by the Crown to recover money he made from a £1.5m laundering racket, told judge Pasportnikov: 'I'm on home leave for a wedding that day. I have a week of home leave every month.' Robertson, of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, is currently the subject of an action brought by prosecutors under proceeds of crime laws. Robertson was given eight years in January 2023. He and two other corrupt solicitors – Alistair Blackwood, 69, and David Lyons – used their law firm Robertson & Ross in Paisley, Renfrewshire, to launder cash obtained illegally. The trio acted alongside Mohammed Aziz, 63, and Robert Ferguson, 69, in a course of criminal activity. The five men were sentenced following a nine week trial at the High Court in Glasgow before judge Lord Richardson. The trial was the culmination of a process which had been triggered by a Law Society probe into activities at the firm. They were convicted of fraud and multiple charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Robertson, Lyons and Aziz were also convicted on charges of being involved in serious organised crime. All were sent to prison. Prosecutors told jurors the case centred on four transactions carried out between May 2015 and July 2016. The first transaction involved a £79,340 stolen cheque due to be paid to a law firm in Jersey. The next centred on £240,000 from a fraudulent house sale in London. The third transaction saw £985,000 stolen from the hacked bank account of an individual. And the final illegal activity was uncovered after Robertson claimed to be acting for a man who wanted to sell his home in Essex. The court heard that the 'seller' was said to be staying at a flat that turned out to be Ferguson's address. A total of £181,786 was made from the fraudulent sale. In each transaction, the proceeds were funnelled through the client bank account held by Robertson's firm in Paisley, Robertson & Ross Limited, and false records were created to make them appear legitimate. Fake papers and fake IDs – including a passport and driver's licence – were collated in a bid to cover up the crimes. The Law Society raised concerns about several of these transactions before alerting police to the potential illegal activity. The trial heard that lawyer Robertson, who has been suspended by the Law Society along with Blackwood, was at the heart of the money-laundering scheme since he had access to his firm's client account. Judge Pasportnikov fixed a hearing in the proceeds case to take place on June 30, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Pembrokeshire Herald
20-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Carmarthenshire man prosecuted for illegal dog breeding
A MAN from Pencader has been convicted for operating an illegal dog breeding business following a prosecution brought to Swansea Crown Court by the local authority. Marc Jones, of 1 Golwg yr Ogof, Pencader, SA39 9HS, was found to have engaged in unlicensed dog breeding activity, in breach of animal welfare and licensing laws. The case was concluded at Swansea Crown Court on 17 April 2025. The investigation began in December 2021, when Mr Jones was first contacted by the council with a formal letter outlining the legal requirements surrounding dog breeding, including the need for a proper licence. Despite further action, including the provision of an application form and an information pack sent on 10 May 2023, Mr Jones failed to submit any application to regularise his activities. Evidence gathered from multiple online advertising platforms showed that Mr Jones had bred more than three litters of puppies within a 12-month period – clearly exceeding the legal threshold requiring a licence. Investigators also found that breeding and sales continued despite the advice and interventions from council officers. As a result of the investigation, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the court determined that Mr Jones financially benefited from the criminal activity, assessing an amount of £100,000. Mr Jones has been ordered to repay this amount within three months or face a 12-month default sentence. In addition, the court imposed a 12-month conditional discharge in lieu of a separate financial penalty. Mr Jones was also ordered to pay the statutory victim surcharge. Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability – Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: 'This case demonstrates the council's commitment to upholding animal welfare standards and ensuring that dog breeding is conducted responsibly and legally. Despite repeated attempts to advise Mr Jones and encourage compliance, he chose to ignore the law and profit without regard for regulation or animal welfare.' Residents are reminded that anyone involved in breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect the welfare of animals and consumers alike.
South Wales Argus
25-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly man and woman charged with dog breeding fraud
Daniel Jordan Davies, 34, and Taryn Elizabeth Davies, 59, both from Caerphilly county are accused of fraud between March 20, 2021 and March 19, 2024. Both have also been charged with alleged offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Daniel Jordan Davies, of Bryn Seion Street, Rhymney is alone accused of unlicensed dog breeding while trading as TriLine Bullys. Neither he nor Taryn Elizabeth Davies, of Heol Evan Wynne, Pontlottyn entered any pleas. Their case was committed to the crown court where they are due to appear on May 16. The defendants were granted unconditional bail.
