Fraud Newsletter – 62 December 2021

January 12, 2022

Fraud Newsletter 6 – December 2021


CASES

Failure to disclose communications between US ‘fixer’ and SFO Director led to unsafe conviction: Akle and Bond: [2021] EWCA Crim 1879 

More “Horizon” Post Office Appeal Convictions allowed unopposed: 2 opposed fail on facts:   Allen v Post Office & CPS [2021} EWCA 1874 applying Ambrose [2021] EWCA Crim 1443. 


SENTENCING AND CONFISCATION

NatWest fined £264m with £4.5m costs for failing to comply offences under ML Regs 2007 relating to Fowler Oldfield money laundering: R v. NatWest (Cockerill J: Sentencing Remarks): 13 Dec 21.  


BILLS, STATUTES & STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

Nothing of note. 


CONSULTATIONS, GUIDANCE, CIRCULARS AND REPORTS

UK-Eurojust Working Arrangementpractical and operational co-operation on serious & organised crime etc. 20 Dec 21. 

Government proposes strengthening insolvency regulationConsultation ends 25 Mar 22:  The Insolvency Service: 21 Dec 21, following the APPG on Fair Business Banking report Resolving Insolvency: Restoring Confidence in the SystemSep 21. 

The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculatedTransparency Int: 20 Dec 21. 

 Together in Electric Schemes: Analysing Money Laundering Risk in E-PaymentsTransp Int – UK: 17 Dec 21. 

National Cyber Security Strategy 2022: Cabinet Office:  15 Dec 21.  

UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2022: Year 3 Update – 2020HO / DfID, FCDO: 11 Dec 21: Summary 

2021 Payment Threats and Fraud trends Report: EPC 6 Dec 21. 

Fraud and the Justice System: New Inquiry on how fraud investigated and prosecuted: deadline for written submissions 17 Jan 22: 3 Dec 2: Justice Committee. 

New tool to support sentencing in the Crown Court: SentencingACE (avoidance of common errors): 17 Dec 21 

Bounce Back Loan Scheme: An update: NAO/ HMT /DBEIS / BBB: 3 Dec 21: Part 2 includes an update on fraud estimates and counterfraud measures. 


NEWS

FCA: 

 

 

SFO: 

Unaoil: (iCA ruling in Akle and Bond: [2021] EWCA Crim 1879; (ii) SFO director’s position ‘untenable’ after damning ruling, lawyers say; Law Soc Gazette: 10 Dec 21.(iii) A-G begins review of SFO after judges overturn bribery conviction: Guardian: 10 Dec 21: (iv) Former oil executive appeals Unaoil bribery conviction following Akle’s successful appealReuters: 20 Dec 21 

SFO secures confiscation against former Petrofac executiveSecurity Matters 23 Dec 21. 

HOME: 

EU & ABROAD: 

Commission fines UBS, Barclays, RBS, HSBC and Credit Suisse €344m for participating in a Foreign Exchange spot trading cartel: EC:  2 Dec 21.