The court was asked ‘Does a court in England and Wales have the power under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to make a recovery order in favour of the trustee for civil recovery in respect of recoverable property outside this jurisdiction, whether moveable or immoveable?’Hooper LJ justifified the extraterritorial effect, saying … Continue reading Perry and Others v Serious Organised Crime Agency: CA 18 May 2011
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 defendant appealed a refusal of a certificate of inadequacy to an amount due under a confiscation order, saying that the court had wrongly allowed for the value of a consultancy agreement under which he was entitled to receive an annual fee for his services. Held: The value of the contract was not realisable property … Continue reading In the Matter of Christopher Adams, In the Matter of the Criminal Justice Act 1988: Admn 26 Nov 2004
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
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The defendant had been convicted of an offence of supplying drugs whilst on licence for a similar offence. The court considered a request for an order under the 2002 Act. Lord Boyd of Duncansby [2014] ScotHC HCJ – 112 Bailii Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 76, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 4(3)(b), Proceeds of Crime … Continue reading HM Advocate v McAllister: HCJ 7 Oct 2014
Consequences of a failure to comply with the provisions of section 15(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Citations: [2018] EWCA Crim 2592, [2019] 4 WLR 67 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 02 September 2022; Ref: scu.630983
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
Citations: [2010] EWCA Crim 2 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 22 August 2022; Ref: scu.392910
The defendants appealed against confiscation orders made after a finding that they had been involved (separately) in the smuggling of tobacco, suggesting a conflict between the 1992 Regulations and the Directive. Held: The appeals variously failed and succeeded according to their facts. A person obtains a pecuniary advantage by evading duty or VAT even though … Continue reading White and Others v Regina: CACD 5 May 2010
The minister appealed against an order dismissing an application for a confiscation order as an abuse of process. The defendant had earlier had been told that no application would be made. Judges: Toulson, Griffith Williams JJ Citations: [2010] EWHC 805 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Social Security Administration 1992 111A(1) Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Crown Court Sitting At Croydon: Admn 24 Mar 2010
The Director said the Judge had been wrong to discharge on grounds of want of disclosure a restraint order previously made ex parte under the Proceeds of Crime Act at the request of a foreign investigator.‘The proper approach is to consider whether the public interest does or does not call for the order to stand, … Continue reading Serious Fraud Office v A: CACD 2 Aug 2007
Cash had been seized by the police under the 1984 Act. It was later seized also under the 2003 Act. The respondent said this was unlawful. Held: The forfeited money could be seized again under the 2003 Act. The 2002 Act allowed appropriate assets to be siezed at any time. Judges: Mittng J Citations: [2006] … Continue reading Merseyside Police v Hickman and Another: Admn 1 Mar 2006
The applicant challenged the exercise of a power of sale under a mortgage, saying that the mortgagee’s purposes included purposes not those under the mortgage. The parties had been involved in an attempted development of a penthouse. Held: The power was validly exercised. Provided the recovery of the sums for which the security was given … Continue reading Meretz Investments Nv and Another v ACP Ltd and others: ChD 30 Jan 2006
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
After conviction for benefits fraud, the defendant appealed a confiscation order, saying that had he made appropriate claims for state benefirs under other heads, the loss to the state would have been much less (andpound;3000 not andpound;19,000). Held: The defendant was unable to set off against the amount ordered to be paid any sum which … Continue reading Department for Works and Pensions v Richards; Regina v Richards (Michael): CACD 3 Mar 2005
Restraint and Disclosure orders had been made on without notice applications at the request of South Africa. The applicant appealed a refusal of their discharge. Held: Such orders did not apply to the applicant’s assets in Scotland. The orders were quashed and new orders substituted restricting their ambit to England and Wales. Judges: Lord Justice … Continue reading King v The Serious Fraud Office: CACD 18 Mar 2008
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 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
Renewed application to appeal against conviction of acquiring criminal property contrary to section 329(1)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Citations: [2009] EWCA Crim 922 Links: Bailii Statutes: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 329(1)(a) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime Updated: 30 March 2022; Ref: scu.430788
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
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
These proceedings concern the civil recovery of the proceeds of unlawful conduct, notably money laundering, extortion and mortgage fraud, in terms of section 266 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The reclaimer contended that the crown had not had sufficient evidence tat one of the properties charged had been the fruit of unlawful conduct. … Continue reading The Scottish Ministers v Stirton and Another: SCS 7 Nov 2014
Application for leave to appeal against his conviction of fraud by false representation, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 (count 1) and being concerned in a money laundering arrangement, contrary to section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. [2021] EWCA Crim 819 Bailii England and Wales Crime Updated: 07 December … Continue reading Louanjli, Regina v: CACD 7 May 2021
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
The parties had negotiated through solicitors a compromise of ancillary relief claims on their divorce. They agreed that the house should be transferred to the wife in consideration of her release of all other financial claims. The wife however became engaged to a new partner before the consent order was made, and remarried two days … Continue reading Jenkins v Livesey (formerly Jenkins): HL 1985
Cere Needed Releasing Future Claims A compromise agreement which appeared to claim to settle all outstanding claims between the employee and employer, did not prevent the employee later claiming for stigma losses where, at the time of the agreement, the circumstances which might lead to a claim were unknown to either party, and such losses … Continue reading Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA v Ali, Khan and others (No 1); BCCI v Ali: HL 1 Mar 2001
The defendants appealed against confiscation orders made on conviction for dealing with goods with intent to defraud the CandE of payable duty namely in bringing in excess numbers of cigarettes. Held: The appeal succeeded. In many cases the Customs and Excise had prosecuted on a basis which was invalidated by the alteration of the 1992 … Continue reading Regina v Khan; Regina v Lockett: CACD 12 Mar 2009
The police had refused to returns items seized from Mr Owens on the basis that to do so would indirectly encourage and assist him in suspected criminal activity. CCTV footage had been removed from him to attempt identify an arsonist of a house.The claimant, a British National Party member had been the subject of the … Continue reading Merseyside Police v Owens: Admn 31 May 2012
Rejection of Submission of No Case to Answer The defendant had faced a charge of affray. The court having rejected his submission of having no case to answer, he had made an exculpatory statement from the dock. He appealed against his conviction. Held: Lord Lane LCJ said: ‘How then should the judge approach a submission … Continue reading Regina v Galbraith: CCA 1981
The defendant had been convicted of drugs offences, and sentenced under the 1994 Act. The gains he had made exceeded his then assets. Later he acquired further property honestly, and the Court now considered whether those assets could be taken to cover the earlier shortfall, by allowing for them when issuing a certificate to increase … Continue reading Peacock, Re: SC 22 Feb 2012
The applicant suffered mutiple sclerosis and considered that she might wish to go abroad to end her life. She asked the court to make more clear the guidance provided by the Director as to whether her partner might be prosecuted under section 2(1) if he accompanied her to Switzerland. She said that the failure to … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: QBD 29 Oct 2008
The defendant agreed to help a friend named Harrington to hide some money for a period. Under the arrangement Harrington transferred around andpound;123,000 into the defendant’s bank account. The defendant used some of it to make some purchases for Harrington and, after an interval, he repaid the balance to Harrington less about andpound;5,000. The prosecution’s … Continue reading Geary, Regina v: CACD 30 Jul 2010
The appellant’s daughter had been stopped entering the country with andpound;150,000 in cash. The police sought an order for its forfeiture, suspecting a link with terrorism. The magistrates found no evidence of such, and declined to make the order, but equally refused to award the defendant her costs. She now appealed against the refusal to … Continue reading Perinpanathan, Regina (on The Application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court and Another: CA 4 Feb 2010
The court was asked whether the Financial Services Authority had a power to prosecute money laundering offences under the 2002 Act, or whether, as contended by the defendant, its powers were limited to sections under the 2000 Act. Held: The defendant’s appeal failed. The FSA had the powers it contended for, and the provisions of … Continue reading Rollins, Regina v: SC 28 Jul 2010
Extension oh Human Rights Beyond Borders The appellants complained that the system set up by the respondent where Home Office officers were placed in Prague airport to pre-vet applicants for asylum from Romania were dsicriminatory in that substantially more gypsies were refused entry than others, and that it was contrary to the obligations of the … Continue reading Regina v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and another, ex parte European Roma Rights Centre and others: HL 9 Dec 2004
The defendant had been convicted of involvement in a substantial VAT fraud, and made subject to a confiscation order. He was made subject to a confiscation order in respect of the amounts lost to the fraud where he was involved, but argued that the court had made each of 16 defendants liable for the full … Continue reading May, Regina v: HL 14 May 2008
The claimants faced criminal charges involving allegations of fraud and corruption. They now challenged by judicial review a search and seizure warrant saying that it was unlawful. A restraint order had been made against them and they had complied with it and co-operated with the investigation, and they said that the strict conditions for an … Continue reading Mills and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Sussex Police and Another: Admn 25 Jul 2014
The court considered the proper approach for the court to adopt, and the proper orders for the court to make, in confiscation proceedings where a number of criminals (some of whom may not be before the court) had between them acquired property or money as a result of committing an offence for which all or … Continue reading Ahmad, Regina v: SC 18 Jun 2014
The defendants had been convicted of offences of failing to comply with planning enforcement notices (and fined andpound;10.00), and subsequently made subject to criminal confiscation orders. The orders had been made in respect of the gross income receipts of the business, limited to andpound;760,000. The defendants said that the activities had been otherwise lawful and … Continue reading Basso and Another v Regina: CACD 19 May 2010
The claimants sought damages after delays by the bank in processing transfer requests. The bank said that the delays were made pending reports of suspected criminal activity. The bank’s delay had stigmatised the claimant causing further losses. The bank requested that the claims be struck out. The claimants sought permission to amend their claims. Held: … Continue reading Shah and Another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd: QBD 26 Jan 2009
The appellant challenged a confiscation order made on his conviction of VAT fraud. It was argued that one could not be made unless a proper notice had been given, and none of the offences occurred before 1995. On the assumption that section 1 of the . .
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