Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Money laundering trial ends as court refuses more time for prosecution

Money laundering trial ends as court refuses more time for prosecution

THE trial of a high-profile money laundering case ended without making any significant headway as a judge refused to grant more time to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to produce evidence.

He blamed the collapse of the case on the “systemic and catastrophic” disclosure failings by the CPS and said the ill-prepared case meant the court’s time and public money were wasted.


A couple - Muhammad Ahsan Javaid and Amna Gulzar – and two others were accused of conspiring to launder £34 million between 2012 and 2018 with false identities by setting sham companies and accounts. They were also believed to have stashed away cash in 43 bank accounts before transferring the money from the UK to Pakistan and other countries. The prosecution also claimed that they used money service bureaus for their alleged financial offence.

In 2016, HM Revenue & Customs had arrested Javaid with nearly £100,000 in his vehicle. Javaid, who claimed he was unaware of the presence of the cash, was again arrested at his home the following year, with £50,000 in his brother’s bedroom. Javaid spent more than two years in custody and another year under curfew.

All the four suspects have denied wrong-doing.

According to The Times, judge Charles Falk at Snaresbrook crown court said that it must have been “obvious” to prosecutors from an early stage that HMRC and other agencies might have evidence that could assist the defence. But it was not until after the start of the trial that the CPS requested material from investigating agencies.

“Catastrophic failure has come about because the investigation exponentially grew in size without sufficient manpower, resources, training or expertise being allocated to it”, the judge said.

On its part, the CPS admitted to a failure to follow reasonable lines of inquiry to ensure a fair trial.

However, it was “committed to working with investigators at an early stage, developing proportionate and timely cases while ensuring a fair trial for all defendants”, a CPS spokesperson told The Times.

More For You

Air India

The airline said the aircraft landed safely and was being inspected 'as a matter of abundant precaution'.

Getty

Delhi-bound Air India Dreamliner returns to Hong Kong mid-air due to technical issue

AN AIR INDIA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Hong Kong to New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff on Monday due to a suspected technical issue.

This incident comes days after an Air India flight to London, also a Boeing 787-8, crashed in Ahmedabad just after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said earlier on Sunday that he had dropped his initial opposition to a national inquiry in favour of one being led by Louise Casey, a member of the parliament’s upper house. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Police crackdown on grooming gangs following national inquiry announcement

AUTHORITIES have announced a nationwide police operation targeting grooming gangs suspected of sexually exploiting thousands of girls and young women over several decades.

The announcement came hours after prime minister Keir Starmer said a national inquiry would be launched into the scandal, which recently drew attention from Elon Musk.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-airways

The airline did not provide details on the departure time, number of passengers or crew on board, or how long the flight was in the air before returning. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Getty Images

British Airways Chennai flight returns to London mid-air due to technical issue

A BRITISH AIRWAYS flight bound for Chennai returned to London mid-air on Sunday after reporting a technical issue.

The airline said the aircraft landed safely and passengers and crew disembarked normally. “The aircraft returned to Heathrow as a standard precaution after reports of a technical issue,” British Airways said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Siddhashram leads interfaith tribute to Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Gareth Thomas MP

Siddhashram leads interfaith tribute to Ahmedabad plane crash victims

Mahesh Liloriya

In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, London came together in an emotional outpouring of grief and unity at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow. Over two solemn days, the revered spiritual haven hosted a series of powerful ceremonies led by His Holiness Rajrajeshwar Guruji, drawing together faith leaders, public figures, and residents from across communities.

On the day of the tragedy, Guruji led a spiritually charged recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa 12 times, joined by a team of spiritual practitioners from India. The prayer created a deep atmosphere of collective mourning and healing.

Keep ReadingShow less