The Fraud Newsletter

December 2024

Compiled by Faras Baloch, Andrew Herd & Francesca Kirby.

Cases

BOB & Ors [2024] EWCA Crim 149: reformulation of Riat steps to determine admissibility of hearsay statement with new step 1 dealing with disclosure.

Cook & Anor [2024] EWCR 8: media not required to seek additional permission to publish documents to which access has been granted by Ct. (Spotlight on Corruption entitled to publish transcripts of trial of former MoD officials over payments to Saudi officials.)

Sentencing & Confiscation

Wieromiejzyk & Anor v DPP [2024] EWCA Crim 1486: correct approach for dealing with requests for restraint orders from EU member states.

Shahraab Ahmad v Karim Ouajjou & Anor [2024] EWCA Civ 1480: 9 months imprisonment for contempt (acting in breach of worldwide freezing order) upheld.

Bond [2024] EWCA Crim 1570: Judge entitled to determine on evidence heard at trial factual basis of D's sentence and extent of D’s benefit from criminal conduct.

Bills, Statutes & SIs

The Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 Allows trust information on Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) that is currently restricted from public inspection to be accessed by application, subject to requirements. Parts 1 & 2 in force 28 Feb 25; Part 3 in force 31 Aug 25.

Guidance, Reports & Consultations

Unexplained wealth orders: 2023 to 2024 annual report GOV.UK: 18 Dec 24

The Role of Financial Rewards for Whistleblowers in the Fight Against Economic Crime SOCACE: 8 Dec 24

Recommendations on the Future Response to Large-Scale Identity Fraud RUSI: 2 Dec 24

Countering the Influence of Big Money in UK Politics Transparency International: 2 Dec 24

Lessons from the frontline: Was Britain’s first McMafia order really a success? Spotlight on Corruption: 5 Dec 24

EBA report on the On the Functioning of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Colleges In 2023: Dec 2024

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News

Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Recordings, transcripts, reports, evidence and key documents etc available on the POHITI website.

What next for the Post Office Inquiry? Law. Soc. Gaz: 23 Dec 24

Osborne Clarke solicitor fined £50,000 by SDT - which says correspondence was not a SLAPP Law. Soc. Gaz: 20 Dec 24

Tom Hayhoe appointed as Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner GOV.UK: 20 Dec 24

City minister Tulip Siddiq named in Bangladesh corruption claim FT: 19 Dec 24

UK Launches ‘Domestic Corruption Unit’ after admitting low bribery convictions AML Intelligence: 13 Dec 24

Ex-lawyer (Phil Shiner) spared jail over false Iraq War claims BBC: 10 Dec 24

Chinese couple forfeit two luxury Hampstead homes suspected to be result of 'fraud' ES: 10 Dec 24

Margaret Hodge named anti-corruption champion Ind: 9 Dec 24 (see: terms of reference)

Frankie Dettori working with HMRC after tax dispute is exposed Racing Post: 9 Dec 24

Trio jailed for forging £4m will of ex-head teacher BBC: 6 Dec 24

Fraud arrest over 'justice for killed PC' Yvonne Fletcher campaign BBC: 4 Dec 24

SFO

Serious business – Nick Ephgrave explains why SFO’s cases ‘are in a league of their own’ Civil Service World: 25 Dec 24

Five charged by SFO over collapse of law firm Axiom Ince SFO: 20 Dec 24

SFO makes arrest in Arena TV fraud case Broadcast: 18 Dec 24

Operators of London Capital & Finance’s Ponzi scheme liable for £180mn FT: 13 Dec 24

UK Fraud Office appeals for information on suspected timeshare scam Reuters: 12 Dec 24

Fraudster Gerald Smith imprisoned for additional 13 months GOV.UK 6 Dec 24

FCA

FCA executes search warrants in investigations involving unauthorised business FCA: 20 Dec 24

FCA apologises to Collateral investors FCA: 19 Dec 24

FCA charges John Dance with offences related to WealthTek FCA: 18 Dec 24

NCA

Couple forfeit £12m following NCA investigation NCA: 10 Dec 24

Operation Destabilise: NCA disrupts $multi-billion Russian money laundering networks with links to, drugs, ransomware and espionage, resulting in 84 arrests NCA: 4 Dec 24

Insolvency Service

Surrey director moved £100,000 in fraudulent Covid loans through family bank accounts IS: 13 Dec 24

Nine-year ban for Dubai-based sales consultant who abused Covid support scheme IS: 5 Dec 24

EU

British hedge fund manager Sanjay Shah given 12-year jail term in Denmark over £1bn tax fraud Sky: 13 Dec 24

US

Bernard Madoff's victims collect $4.3 billion as US government fund completes payouts Reuters: 31 Dec 24

McKinsey & Company Africa to Pay Over $122M in Connection with Bribery of South African Government Officials DOJ: 5 Dec 24