Claim brought by the National Crime Agency (the ‘NCA’) for a civil recovery order under Chapter 2 of Part 5 of the POCA in relation to certain assets (the ‘Disputed Assets’) held by the First and Second Defendant. Judges: The Hon. Mrs Justice McGowan DBE Citations: [2020] EWHC 1609 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of … Continue reading National Crime Agency and Another v Odewale and Another: Admn 22 Jun 2020
The parties sought guidance from the court on the circumstances which arose in ancillary relief proceedings where a legal representative came to believe that one party might be holding the proceeds of crime. In the course of ancillary relief proceedings, the parties legal representatives concluded that some part of the matrimonial assets might represent the … Continue reading P v P (Ancillary Relief: Proceeds of Crime): FD 8 Oct 2003
The appellant had been convicted of causing death by careless driving with excess alcohol. He said that he had taken alcohol after stopping driving but before being tested. He challenged the weight of the burden of proof ascribed by the statute. The judge had directed the jury that he faced a persuasive burden of establishing … Continue reading Drummond v Regina: CACD 7 Mar 2002
Proceedings for the civil recovery of the proceeds of unlawful conduct Judges: The Chancellor (Sir Terence Etherton) Citations: [2014] EWHC 4384 (Ch), [2015] 1 Ch 520, [2015] Lloyd’s Rep FC 161, [2015] WLR(D) 1, [2015] 3 WLR 23 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Police Updated: 17 November 2022; … Continue reading The National Crime Agency v Robb: ChD 23 Dec 2014
Judges: Lord Justice Gross Mrs Justice Lang DBE And Mr Justice Phillips Citations: [2018] EWCA Crim 3017 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 329(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 10 November 2022; Ref: scu.682131
Order for costs after rejection of challenge to Order under the 2002 Act. Judges: Edis J Citations: [2016] EWHC 728 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime, Costs Updated: 24 October 2022; Ref: scu.562135
Reasons for order releasing funds from sums subject to restraint order. Judges: Gloster J DBE Citations: [2012] EW Misc 1 (CCrimC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 Cited by: See Also – Stanford International Bank Ltd v Director of The Serious Fraud Office SC 15-Feb-2012 The Court … Continue reading Re Stanford International Bank Ltd: Misc 16 Jan 2012
The claimant sought civil recovery against the third defendant and those said to be assisting him by holding property on his behalf. Judges: Kenneth Parker J Citations: [2011] EWHC 3332 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 243(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Administrative Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.450081
Citations: [2018] EWCA Crim 2639 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 327 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 19 September 2022; Ref: scu.630978
The claimant owned properties subject to charges in favour of a bank. The Agency alleged that the properties represented the proceeds of crime. The agency had settled its claim by taking a second charge over one property. When that was sold, only sufficient funds were available to discharge the bank’s first charge, and the Agency … Continue reading Szepietowski v The Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 21 Jul 2011
The court heard appeals against disclosure orders made under the 2002 Act. The appellants argued that neither the offence, nor the assets nor the appellants themselves were within the jurisdiction. Citations: [2010] EWCA Civ 907, [2010] 1 WLR 542, [2010] CP Rep 43, [2010] Lloyds Rep FC 606 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Perry and Others: CA 29 Jul 2010
The appellants challenged an order made against them under the 2002 Act where Mr Gale had been prosecuted abroad, but not convicted on drug trafficking allegations. The Agency said that no satisfactory explanation had been given of the considerable assets accumulated, and the Court rejected the appellants’ evidence as unreliable. Held: The appeal failed. Judges: … Continue reading Gale and Others v Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 7 Jul 2010
Mr Gale had been prosecuted twice in foreign courts on allegations of drug trafficking. Each prosecution had failed. The Agency nevertheless sought an order under the 2002 Act alleging that his property was the fruit of criminal activity. Held: The order was granted. The court rejected Mr Gale’s case that he was ‘a genuine businessman … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Gale and Others: QBD 12 May 2009
The Claimants claimed damages in a sum in excess of US$300,000,000 arising out of delays by the Defendant, their bankers, in executing four transfers from the Claimants’ account during the period September 2006 to March 2007 and the Defendant’s failure to explain the reasons for such delays. Judges: Supperstone J Citations: [2012] EWHC 1283 (QB), … Continue reading Shah and Another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd: QBD 16 May 2012
S owned several propertie in charge to the bank, but the Agency said that each had been acquired with the proceeds of criminal activity. The parties had settled the claim by the grant of a second charge in favour of the Agency. However when that property was sold, the bank’s first charge (securing money also … Continue reading Szepietowski v The National Crime Agency: SC 23 Oct 2013
The Agency asked to have set aside four orders allowing the defendant to have excluded from his assets subject to an interim receiving order to allow payment of his legal expenses. Held: There was no rule that assets once excluded from an order must remain so excluded. The section allowed but did not require an … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and Others (No 2): ChD 1 Jul 2009
Several of the defendants applied for assets to be excluded from an interim receiving order in order to enable them to meet legal expenses. Judges: Henderson J Citations: [2009] EWHC 344 (Ch), [2010] 1 WLR 1316, [2010] Bus LR 689 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and others: ChD 27 Feb 2009
The defendant challenged the making of civil orders for recovery of what were alleged to be the proceeds of crime. They complained that no specific offence had been made out. The court was asked, as a preliminary issue: ‘Whether a claim for civil recovery can be determined on the basis of conduct in relation to … Continue reading Director of Assets Recovery Agency and Others, Regina (on the Application of) v Green and others: Admn 16 Dec 2005
The defendant appealed against a confiscation order made following his conviction for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. Judges: Pill LJ, Hedley LJ, Sir Richard Curtis Citations: [2007] EWCA Crim 2688 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Attorney General Reference Nos 99, 100, 101 and 102 of … Continue reading Nadarajah v Regina: CACD 16 Nov 2007
The bank had reported to the respondent its suspicions about funds it held for the claimant. The accounts were frozen, and the customer now sought a judicial review of the refusal of the Agency to reconsider its decision. Held: The review was granted. The Agency had to acknowledge the great effect on commercial activities of … Continue reading UMBS Online Ltd, Regina (on the Application Of) v Serious Organised Crime Agency and Another: CA 2 May 2007
The defendants appealed against confiscation orders on the basis that in various ways, the Crown had failed to comply with procedural requirements. Held: The courts must remember the importance of such procedures in the fight against crime, and must not allow procedural or technical failures to defeat that purpose. Courts should rather look to see … Continue reading Sekhon, etc v Regina: CACD 16 Dec 2002
Statutory provisions which reversed the burden of proof in cases involving drug smuggling and other repeat offenders, allowing confiscation orders to be made were not necessarily in contravention of the article 6 right. However the question of whether the statutory provision infringed the right to a fair trial was for each particular case which came … Continue reading Regina v Benjafield, Regina v Leal, Regina v Rezvi, Regina v Milford: HL 24 Jan 2002
Save in cases involving children and ancillary and other situations requiring it, cases in the family division were not inherently private. The appellant failed to obtain an order that details of an action under the section should not be disclosed by the media. Held: The description of the law at first instance was too wide … Continue reading Allan v Clibbery (1): CA 30 Jan 2002
Having been convicted of theft, a confiscation order had been made against which the appellant appealed. The Court of Appeal certified a question of whether confiscation provisions under the 1988 Act were in breach of the defendant’s human rights. Are applications for confiscation orders criminal proceedings under the Convention, and if so do the assumptions … Continue reading Regina v Rezvi: HL 24 Jan 2002
The fact that the elderly victim of the robbery of which the defendant had been convicted had failed to pick out Mr Edwards when she was shown two volumes of photographs of possible burglars which included his photograph was not disclosed to the defence. One of the police witnesses said that no fingerprints were found … Continue reading Edwards v The United Kingdom: ECHR 16 Dec 1992
The defendant was convicted of an offence to which section 15 of the Theft Act did not apply. It involved a deception of the auditors of BCCI in concealing a number of substantial loans made to a group of companies run by the defendant. Buxton J had considered that Rees was confined to its own … Continue reading Abbas Kassimali Gokal v Serious Fraud Office: CA 16 Mar 2001
A substantial confiscation order was made with respect to money seized from the applicant on the ground that customs officers believed the money was directly or indirectly the proceeds of drugs trafficking and/or was intended for use in drug trafficking. The applicant contended that a court, when considering whether to make a forfeiture order in … Continue reading Butler v United Kingdom: ECHR 27 Jun 2002
Appeal from sentencing for money laundering and of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice. Judges: Gross LJ, Holroyde, Cheema-Grubb DBE JJ Citations: [2016] EWCA Crim 1745 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 27 March 2022; Ref: scu.588237
No Waiver for disclosure of Advice EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: Admissibility of evidence The claimant sought disclosure of certain legal advice on the basis that its effect, and a summary of its contents, had been put before the court and therefore privilege was waived. The Tribunal rejected the application and the EAT held that they … Continue reading Brennan and others v Sunderland City Council Unison GMB: EAT 16 Dec 2008
ICO (Central Government) The complainant requested information about restraint and confiscation orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) denied holding the requested information relating to restraint orders. It also denied holding the requested information relating to confiscation orders citing section 11(5)(c) of the FOIA (the dataset provisions). … Continue reading Ministry of Justice – FS50630215: ICO 15 Dec 2016
FTTTx Income Tax – Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – application by Appellants to stay proceedings in appeals against assessments and penalty determinations on grounds of lack of resources due to subjection of their properties to civil recovery proceedings – held, availability of resources not relevant to issues to be determined in substantive hearing or … Continue reading Peries and Another v The Serious Organised Crime Agency: FTTTx 20 Oct 2011
The court considered how to deal with a payment into court for the benefit of the parties when assets of one were to be made subject to a restraint order. Newey J [2016] EWHC 1996 (Ch) Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 20 January 2022; Ref: scu.567846
Applications relating to asset freezing orders. Collins J [2016] EWHC 1911 (Admin) Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 20 January 2022; Ref: scu.567655
The three Applicants sought to set aside orders which granted the National Crime Agency a Property Freezing Order and a Disclosure Order against each of them and six other Respondents. McGowan J [2016] EWHC 899 (Admin) Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Criminal Practice Updated: 14 January 2022; Ref: scu.562907
Applications for discharge of orders under the 2002 Act. Edis J [2016] EWHC 255 (Admin) Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 10 January 2022; Ref: scu.560247
[2016] EWCA Crim 19 Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 10 January 2022; Ref: scu.560265
Appeal against a confiscation order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (the Act). It requires consideration of the tainted gifts regime created by the Act. Davis LJ, Edis J, Watt HHJ [2016] EWCA Crim 10 Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 10 January 2022; Ref: scu.559510
Police had discovered quantities of stolen goods at the appellant’s business premises. He was convicted of receiving stolen goods, and confiscation order made. He now appealed from the inclusion in that order of sums of VAT which had already been accounted for to HMRC. Held: (Hughes and Toulson JJSC dissenting) The defendant’s appeal succeeded. Including … Continue reading Harvey, Regina v: SC 16 Dec 2015
Applications were made in relation to payment of legal fees in proceeds of crime recovery proceedings Globe J [2013] EWHC 1480 (QB) Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 31 December 2021; Ref: scu.510164
Civil recovery orders had been made against the applicant. He had been accused and acquitted of drug trafficking allegations in Europe, but the judge had been persuaded that he had no proper explanation for the accumulation of his wealth, and had rejected his evidence as unreliable. Held: The defendant’s appeal failed. The making of an … Continue reading Gale and Another v Serious Organised Crime Agency: SC 26 Oct 2011
Challenge to civil recovery order Lord Justice Mummery, Lord Justice Richards, And, Lord Justice Leveson [2013] EWCA Civ 518 Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 31 December 2021; Ref: scu.509313
FTTTx INCOME TAX AND NICs – tax assessments and penalty assessments – whether SOCA had reasonable grounds to suspect income accruing to appellant due to criminal conduct so that s. 317(1)(a) Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 applied giving it jurisdiction – yes – whether tax assessments for 2004/05 and 2005/06 raised timeously – yes – … Continue reading Fenech v Serious Organised Crime Agency: FTTTx 10 Oct 2013
Application for leave to appeal against refusal of leave to bring judicial review of a decision of the respondent agency. Leave to appeal was granted, but the matter was returned to the administrative court for review. Ward LJ, Sedley LJ, Hooper LJ [2007] EWCA Civ 375, [2008] 1 All ER 465 Bailii Proceeds of Crime … Continue reading UMBS Online, Regina (on the Application Of) v Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 21 Mar 2007
The court was asked whether, as second mortgagee on the defendant’s properties, the claimant agency had the equitable power of marshalling of prior charges. The first chargee had charges over two properties, and sold the first, satisfying it debt, but leaving the Agency with no effective return. The bank’s same debts had also been secured … Continue reading Serious Organised Crime Agency v Szepietowski and Others: ChD 15 Oct 2010
The applicants had been imprisoned and held without trial, being suspected of international terrorism. No criminal charges were intended to be brought. They were foreigners and free to return home if they wished, but feared for their lives if they did. A British subject, who was suspected in the exact same way, and there were … Continue reading A v Secretary of State for the Home Department, and X v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 16 Dec 2004
The defendant had pleaded to charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply. He was sentenced, but then the prosecutor was 14 months’ late serving its notice with regard to the confiscation order under section 16. The crown now appealed . .
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Judges: Mr Justice Supperstone Citations: [2012] EWHC 1855 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also – Shah and Another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd QBD 26-Jan-2009 The claimants sought damages after delays by the bank in processing transfer requests. The bank said that the delays … Continue reading Shah and Another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd: QBD 5 Jul 2012
(From High Court of Justiciary (Scotland)) The defendant had been convicted of drug trafficking. He complained that the following confiscation order had infringed his human rights being based an assumption of guilt and which was incompatible with his article 6 rights. The first question was whether he remained a person ‘charged with a criminal offence’. … Continue reading Her Majesty’s Advocate and Another v Mcintosh: PC 5 Feb 2001
The claimants sought to have set aside search and seizure warrants obtained to further enquiries into suspected breaches of EU sanctions against ZANU-PF of Zimbabwe. They alleged non-disclosure and misrepresentation. Held: A decision to claim on public interest grounds to withhold information placed before a magistrate to obtain a warrant should be taken by a … Continue reading Golfrate Property Management Ltd and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v The Crown Court At Southwark and Another: Admn 25 Mar 2014
The prosecutor appealed from a terminal ruling, acceding to a submission of no case to answer advanced on behalf of all four defendants.Proof to the criminal standard can be discharged by circumstantial evidence and then by inference: ‘No doubt, if such an inference is prima facie there to be drawn, an evidential burden is cast … Continue reading NW and Others, Regina v: CACD 23 Jan 2008
An application had been made under section 298 of the 2002 Act for the forfeiture of cash. The application had been dismissed by the magistrates’ court, but they also refused order the defendant’s costs. The police appealed to the Crown Court against the magistrates’ refusal to make a forfeiture order. Their appeal was dismissed, but … Continue reading Orton v Truro Crown Court and Another: Admn 21 Jan 2009
Citations: [2012] ScotCS CSOH – 166 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Scotland Citing: See Also – Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another SCS 5-Feb-2008 Application for an interim administration order in terms of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and for warrant for inhibition and arrestment . . See Also – Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another … Continue reading Scottish Ministers, Re Stirton and Another: SCS 17 Oct 2012
Citations: [2005] EWCA Crim 2168 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Berr, Regina (on the Prosecution of) v Lowe CACD 17-Feb-2009 The defendant appealed against a confiscation order, alleging abuse of process by the prosecution. He had transferred land from the company just before it … Continue reading Mahmood and Another, Regina v: CACD 26 Aug 2005
The defendant appealed a conviction of possession of 66 grams of cannabis with intent to supply. Also found were a large number of small bags and pounds 7,000 in cash. The defendant said the cannabis was for his personal use, and the equipment had been left at the house. He also complained of the mention … Continue reading Payton, Regina v: CACD 26 May 2006
The Court heard an interim application to decide whether an appeal to the Supreme Court existed under the 2002 Act. A restraint order had been made as to the appellants assets. Held: The statutory provisions substituting the Supreme Court for the House of Lords had omitted to deal with the 2005 Order appeal provisions. Leave … Continue reading Stanford International Bank Ltd v Director of The Serious Fraud Office: SC 15 Feb 2012
Appeal against refusal of permission to amend pleadings. The claimants suffered large losses after the bank delayed implementing his instructions after staff members initiated a report under the 2002 Act. The claimant said that the evidence supporting a claim that the report was made in bad faith had only just come to light. Held: The … Continue reading Shah and Another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd: CA 30 Nov 2011
The defendant appealed against his conviction for money laundering. He had paid through his bank account a sum derived from a fraud. Judges: Aikens LJ, Keith, Thirlwall JJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 767, [2011] Lloyd’s Rep FC 416 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 328(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 26 September … Continue reading Regina v Long: CACD 15 Mar 2011
This appeal raises issues as to what must be proved before a magistrates’ court can make an order for forfeiture of cash pursuant to section 298(2)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Citations: [2019] EWHC 3316 (Admin) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Magistrates, Criminal Practice Updated: 25 September 2022; Ref: scu.645827
The defendant appealed from his conviction under section 328. He had been arranging to buy what he admitted he thought may be a stolen car. Held: The parties had nor reached agreement even as to the purchase price, and no further steps had been taken to identify a sub-purchaser. The conviction was quashed. Judges: Bean … Continue reading Dare v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 13 Jul 2012
The defendant appealed against a confiscation order made on his conviction for possession of a Class B controlled drug. There had been considerable delays in the completion of the process, and it had exceeded the two year limit. The appellant argued that exceptional circumstances had not existed. The court had, of its own motion, adjourned … Continue reading Regina v Johal: CACD 19 Apr 2013
The defendant appealed against a confiscation order made on his plea to charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply. The Crown had served its statement under section 16 of the 2002 Act, but it was 14 months’ late. Judges: Jackson LJ, Mitting, Jay JJ Citations: [2015] EWCA Crim 305, [2015] 1 WLR 4149, … Continue reading Guraj, Regina v: CACD 6 Mar 2015
The defendant faced confiscation proceedings. The judge gave instructions to the listing office to give a later date for the hearing. The defendant said that the delay took the case out of the court’s jurisdiction to make an order. Held: The judge’s act was in itself a valid postponment so as to extend the time … Continue reading Crown Prosecution Service v Neish: CACD 6 May 2010
The defendant appealed against the making of a confiscation order, saying that the court had erred in the procedure for forfeiting drugs. Held: The appeal failed. The section contained an express prohibition against making both a forfeiture and a confiscation order. However the object of the act should not be frustrated by the erroneous imposition … Continue reading Regina v Donohoe: CACD 28 Jul 2006
Citations: [2011] EWCA Crim 146, [2011] 1 Cr App Rep 37, [2011] Lloyd’s Rep FC 316 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 328 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 01 September 2022; Ref: scu.428636
The court considered the defence of diminished responsibility to a charge of murder. Held: Lord Rodger of Earlsferry: ‘It is, of course, impossible to attempt to describe the ambit of the doctrine of diminished responsibility without even attempting to describe the operation of the doctrine itself. A common theme in the cases where judges have … Continue reading Scarsbrook or Galbraith v Her Majesty’s Advocate (No.2): HCJ 21 Jun 2001
The court had allowed as exception to a criminal restraining order his reasonable living expenses. He sought an order allowing him to pay his legal aid contribution from those expenses. Held: The section allowed reasonable living expenses as an exemption, but did not allow payments of contributions as a condition of his grant of public … Continue reading In re M (Restraint order: Reasonable living expenses): CACD 22 May 2009
The defendant appealed against a decision that he should face a prosecution for contempt of court for breach of a restraint order. Held: The court did have the jurisdiction to deal with such a complaint. Judges: Toulson LJ, Mr Justice Andrew Smith LJ, Bean J Citations: Times 24-Oct-2008 Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 41 … Continue reading Regina v M (Restraint order: Jurisdiction): CACD 14 Aug 2008
The defendant appealed against his convictions for converting the proceeds of crime. He had allowed money taken in fraud by another to be paid through his bank account. He denied he had any knowledge of the fact that they were criminal proceeds and he had not himself been involved in any conversion. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Regina v Fazal: CACD 9 Jun 2009
The Commissioner sought judicial review (with permission) of an order made by Magistrates in effect that the police should release cash, which was the subject of a forfeiture application under section 298 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, to the interested party to fund his criminal defence. Because the forfeiture proceedings were outstanding such … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for The City of London, Regina (on The Application of) v City of London Magistrates’ Court and Another: Admn 29 Apr 2015
Sums of money had been found on a raid on factory premises where many illegal workers were found. The company appealed seizure of the money under the 2002 Act. Judges: Richards LJ, MacKay J Citations: [2008] EWHC 1651 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Immigration Act 1971, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime, … Continue reading Greater Manchester Police, Regina (on the Application of) v City of Salford Magistrates Court: Admn 21 Jul 2008
The claimant challenged seizure of cash he was carrying. The court had concluded from its volume that it represented the proceeds of crime. Held: Carnwath LJ said: ‘I agree with Sullivan J (in Green) that the Director need not allege the commission of any specific criminal offence, provided there are set out the matters alleged … Continue reading Olupitan and Another v Director of the Assets Recovery Agency: CA 22 Feb 2008
The Act applied to a company which was being operated in breach of section 216 of the Insolvency Act which forbids the use of a prohibited trading style. Citations: [2007] EWCA Crim 1994 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Cited by: Cited – Basso and Another v Regina CACD 19-May-2010 The defendants had … Continue reading Neuberg (Karen), Regina v: CACD 13 Jul 2007
The defendant had had set aside an interim order for assets recovery. The director appealed against a finding by the court below that he did not have ‘a good arguable case’, justifying an interim recovery order. Held: The appeal succeeded. On an interim order, the director had to establish a good arguable case that a … Continue reading Assets Recovery Agency v Szepietowski and others: CA 24 Jul 2007
Four defendants appealed convictions in money laundering cases. The first defendant operated a money exchange through which substantial volumes of cash were moved, but claimed that he believed the money to have been honestly acquired. Held: Saik now meant that the requirement was for actual suspicion, not mere reasonable cause for suspicion. However in this … Continue reading Suchedina v Regina; similar: CACD 27 Oct 2006
The police had obtained an ex parte order for the production of files from a firm of solicitors relating to financial transactions of one of their clients. The police believed that the client had been provided with money to purchase property by an alleged drug trafficker. The solicitors relied on the exemption in section 27(4)(ii) … Continue reading Regina v Central Criminal Court ex parte Francis and Francis: HL 1989
The defendant had been convicted of offences in which he had operated to purchase companies and use false debentures to evade corporation tax. Compensation had been sought under the 1988 Act. It was argued that the confiscation order should be quashed because the defendant had not benefitted as alleged. Held: The appeals failed. The court … Continue reading Regina v Stannard: CACD 1 Nov 2005
The defendant had successfully appealed a confiscation order which had been made without jurisdiction, but now claimed that that exempted those assets from later civil proceedings to recover the criminal proceeds. Held: The failure of the previous criminal confiscation proceedings did not prevent the later making of civil recovery orders. The exceptions allowed under section … Continue reading Singh v Director of the Assets Recovery Agency: CA 17 May 2005
The defendants had had confiscation orders made against them. They had appealed on the basis that the orders were made more than six months after sentence. The prosecutor now appealed saying that the fact that the order were not timely did not invalidate them. Held: The appeal was allowed. The confiscation orders made by the … Continue reading Regina v Soneji and Bullen: HL 21 Jul 2005
Judges: Nelson J Citations: [2006] EWHC B10 (QB Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Banking, Crime Updated: 28 June 2022; Ref: scu.280163
(Court for Crown Cases Reserved) The defendants were charged with conspiracy to defraud a judgment creditor of the fruits of a judgment by dishonestly backdating a dissolution of their partnership to a date prior to a bill of sale given by Railton to Cox in respect of his assets. The trial judge permitted the prosecution … Continue reading Regina v Cox and Railton: 1884
The parties had lived together in a house owned in the defendant’s name and in which she claimed an interest. The claimant’s solicitors notified NCIS that they thought the defendant had acted illegally in setting off against his VAT liability the VAT on works carried out on his own property. Because of the delay which … Continue reading Bowman v Fels (Bar Council and Others intervening): CA 8 Mar 2005
The defendant had been acquitted of criminal charges and had an order for costs made in his favour. The claimant pursued a civil recovery order. The defendant sought a variation of the interim order. Held: When considering such an application, the court should treat the issues as under property law so as to protect the … Continue reading Director of Assets Recovery Agency v Creaven and Others: QBD 8 Nov 2005
The Customs had obtained a restraint order over the applicant’s assets pending its investigation of his affairs. He sought permission to use part of the money to pay the legal costs of legal advice and assistance with regard to the restraint order. Held: The section had been passed because assets had previously been substantially dissipated … Continue reading In re S (Restraint Order): CACD 1 Oct 2004
The claimant sought damages for the losses it had suffered as a result of price fixing by the defendant companies in the vitamin market. The European Commission had already fined the defendant for its involvement. Held: In an action for breach of statutory duty the court can in appropriate circumstances make a restitutionary award, that … Continue reading Devenish Nutrition Ltd and others v Sanofi-Aventis SA (France) and others: ChD 19 Oct 2007
Applicant alleged that her signature on the Transfer of the property had been forged and that the signature (whosever it was) had not been properly witnessed. She sought rectification of the register and her reinstatement as proprietor. There was no objection from the registered proprietor but the Respondent had a restriction in the register in … Continue reading Akhtar v Slough Borough Council: LRA 27 Oct 2017
Application for leave to appeal against convictions for money laundering related offences. Judges: Jolroyde LJ, Zeidman QC HHJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Crim 1147 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 327(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 28 March 2022; Ref: scu.591698
The parties had applied to be married. S was a European citizen, and the intended groom was an overstayer from Pakistan. They were refused a licence, and taken into custody, and now appealed against refusal of a licence. Held: The appeal succeeded. It was for the Home Office to prove what it asserted: ‘One of … Continue reading Sadovska and Another v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 26 Jul 2017
Judges: Gross LJ, Leggatt J Citations: [2017] EWHC 747 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Financial Services, Crime Updated: 24 March 2022; Ref: scu.581625
The claimant had served an asset freezing order on the bank in respect of one of its customers. The bank paid out on a cheque inadvertently as to the order. The Commissioners claimed against the bank in negligence. The bank denied any duty of care. Held: The bank’s appeal succeeded. The bank owed a duty … Continue reading HM Customs and Excise v Barclays Bank Plc: HL 21 Jun 2006
Each defendant appealed against confiscation orders made when the sentence imposed was an absolute or conditional discharge. They said that Clarke made such orders unlawful. Held: The decision in Clarke was a difficult limitation on the court’s discretion: ‘there are cases in which the combination of an order for discharge with a confiscation order represents … Continue reading Regina v Magro: CACD 8 Jul 2010
PI Damages not Reduced for Own Pension The plaintiff policeman was disabled by the negligence of the defendant and received a disablement pension. Part had been contributed by himself and part by his employer. Held: The plaintiff’s appeal succeeded. Damages for personal injury were not to be reduced by deducting the full net value of … Continue reading Parry v Cleaver: HL 5 Feb 1969
The applicants had had their requests for asylum refused. They complained that if they were removed from the UK, their article 3 rights would be infringed. If they were returned to Pakistan or Vietnam they would be persecuted for their religious faiths. Held: A distinction was to be made between domestic cases involving actions within … Continue reading Regina v Special Adjudicator ex parte Ullah; Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 17 Jun 2004
Davis LJ, Lang DBE, Patterson DBE JJ [2015] EWCA Crim 1731, [2016] 1 WLR 1400, [2016] 1 Cr App R (S) 41, [2016] Lloyd’s Rep FC 21, [2016] Crim LR 12, [2016] Crim LR 127 Bailii Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 05 January 2022; Ref: scu.554245
23178/13 – Communicated Case, [2015] ECHR 168 Bailii European Convention on Human Rights, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Human Rights, Criminal Sentencing Updated: 28 December 2021; Ref: scu.542941
ECHR Article 1 para. 1 of Protocol No. 1 Peaceful enjoyment of possessions Narrow scope of review for order confiscating wages from employment obtained using a false passport: violation Facts – The applicant, an Ivoirian national living illegally in the United Kingdom, obtained employment using a false French passport. From 2003 to 2007 he accumulated … Continue reading Paulet v The United Kingdom: ECHR 13 May 2014
The claimant was responsible for recovering money under the 2002 Act, and alleged that the first defendant had been engaged in a mortgage fraud. Held: To succeed in such a claim for recovery the Claimant must prove, ‘on a balance of probabilities’, that the matters alleged to constitute unlawful conduct occurred. The court had a … Continue reading Assets Recovery Agency v Olupitan and Another: QBD 8 Feb 2007
Appeal brought by way of case stated from the decision of the Crown Court at Chelmsford on 1 March 2013 to uphold the decision of the Magistrates’ Court to order the forfeiture of a sum of andpound;6,500 pursuant to section 298 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Andrews J [2014] EWHC 462 (Admin) Bailii … Continue reading Nuro v The Home Office: Admn 7 Feb 2014
Several defendants appealed against confiscation orders made against them on convictions for avoiding customs and excise duty by re-importing cigarettes originally intended for export. They had accepted the orders being made by consent, but now appealed saying that the consent had been given following inaccurate legal advice. Held: The appeals were allowed. The fact that … Continue reading Mackle, Regina v: SC 29 Jan 2014
[2013] ScotCS CSIH – 81 Bailii Scotland Citing: See Also – Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another SCS 5-Feb-2008 Application for an interim administration order in terms of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and for warrant for inhibition and arrestment . . See Also – Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another SCS 30-Apr-2009 . … Continue reading The Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another: SCS 11 Oct 2013
