Natwest fined £264m after taking deposits of laundered cash in bin bags – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2021 in banking, fines, money laundering, news by tracey

‘NatWest has been fined more than £264m for anti-money-laundering failures that involved black bin liners stuffed full of cash being deposited, and sums so large that one branch’s two floor-to-ceiling safes proved “inadequate” for storing it all.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Super courtroom’ to open in Loughborough to deal with gang trials – BBC News

Posted November 9th, 2021 in courts, drug trafficking, gangs, Ministry of Justice, money laundering, murder, news by tracey

‘A “super courtroom” has been built to help deal with gang trials with large numbers of defendants.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chart-topping rapper Nines jailed for plot to import 28kg of cannabis – The Independent

‘Chart-topping rapper Nines has been jailed for 28 months for importing 28kg of cannabis.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New landmark partnership with UAE to tackle illicit finance – Home Office

Posted September 20th, 2021 in government departments, money laundering, news, terrorism by tracey

‘The UK and UAE will ramp up the targeting of those financing terrorism and serious and organised crime gangs as part of a landmark new partnership.’

Full Story

Home Office, 17th September 2021

Source: www.gov.uk

Lord Chancellor addresses the Cambridge Economic Crime Symposium – Ministry of Justice

‘The Lord Chancellor spoke during the 38th annual Symposium held at Jesus College, University of Cambridge – to give an update on the government’s progress and plans in relation to economic crime.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 10th September 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Defensive Advising Strategies 2: Know Your Client – Wilberforce Chambers

‘With a history in the world of financial services regulation, “know your customer/client” or “KYC” is a cornerstone of professional practice. What does it mean for legal professionals? In this instalment of my series on defensive advising strategies, I consider three aspects of KYC which are particularly relevant to lawyers, with an emphasis on the interface between solicitors and other professionals and the barristers they instruct. This perspective is based on my own experience as a practitioner and raises issues which crop up relatively frequently.’

Full Story

Wilberforce Chambers, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Tara Hanlon jailed for over £5m money laundering offences – BBC News

Posted July 27th, 2021 in imprisonment, money laundering, national crime agency, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman has been jailed for 34 months after being found at Heathrow Airport with five suitcases stuffed with nearly £2m in cash.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fraudster jailed for duping over 200 victims in million-pound fake car sales scam – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A fraudster posing as a car salesman has been jailed today (16 July 2021) for defrauding over 200 unsuspecting car buyers out of more than one million pounds.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 16th July 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Anti-money laundering expert convicted of siphoning criminal money abroad – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted June 25th, 2021 in Crown Prosecution Service, fraud, money laundering, news by tracey

‘The former chairman of a UK group that represents the payment services industry has been convicted today (23 June 2021) of laundering the proceeds of an investment fraud worth £850,000 and involving more than 60 victims.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 25th June 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Aram Sheibani: International drugs boss with luxury lifestyle jailed – BBC News

‘A man who was the “very head” of a large-scale international drugs conspiracy with links to Colombia has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FCA launches proceedings against NatWest over alleged money laundering – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2021 in banking, financial regulation, money laundering, news, prosecutions by tracey

‘The City watchdog has begun criminal proceedings against the taxpayer-owned lender NatWest for allegedly failing to prevent money laundering, the first prosecution brought under money laundering regulations introduced in 2007.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Romance fraud on rise in coronavirus lockdown – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2021 in coronavirus, fraud, identity fraud, internet, money laundering, news, statistics by sally

‘Romance fraud – scamming someone out of money by pretending to want a relationship – has been on the rise during lockdown.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th February 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

People smugglers jailed for total of 78 years over deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants – The Independent

‘Four people-smugglers have been jailed for a total of 78 years over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants, whose bodies were found in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Extensions to the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Regime – Family Law Week

‘Matthew Moore, director of Infolegal, advises family lawyers of their obligations under anti-money laundering regulations following changes [to the] wording of what constitutes taxation advice.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 24th November 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Unexplained Wealth Orders: Suspected money launderer gives up £10m of property – BBC News

‘Around £10m of property has been surrendered in a major victory against some of northern England’s most dangerous criminals. The apartments and homes were given up to the National Crime Agency by a Leeds businessman who investigators suspect of being a major money-launderer.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Furlough Fraud – The Coming Storm – 33 Bedford Row

Posted July 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, fraud, money laundering, news, remuneration, tax evasion by sally

‘On the 8th of July 2020 the first reported arrest took place in the West Midlands of a 57-year-old man suspected of “furlough fraud”. The arrest and search of his property has been reported widely in the national media. It was reported that following arrest the man had his computers, digital devices and documents seized in relation to an alleged £495,000 fraud. His bank accounts have been frozen.’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 27th July 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Lawyers have become “de facto agents of Russian state” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers have become “de facto agents of the Russian state” by helping to smooth the way of Russian money entering the UK, according to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Commerzbank fined £38m by UK watchdog for money-laundering failings – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2020 in banking, financial regulation, fines, money laundering, news by sally

‘The UK’s financial regulator has fined Commerzbank £38m for money-laundering failures, including an “out-of-control” system for checking clients.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Corporate failure to prevent abuses – Law Society’s Gazette

‘While debate rumbles on over the extension of ‘failure to prevent’ offences into the broad spectrum of financial crime, including fraud and money laundering, some have called for their introduction into an altogether different sphere: human rights.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 6th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gambling firm Betway hit with record £11.6m penalty – BBC News

Posted March 13th, 2020 in consumer protection, fines, gambling, money laundering, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Online betting firm Betway has been hit with a record penalty of £11.6m for failings over customer protection and money-laundering checks.’

Full Story

BBC news, 12th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk