Fifteen suspects have been charged in relation to fraud and money laundering allegedly committed against public and private bodies totalling over £12m.
The alleged fraud involved the defendants contacting mainly public bodies, masquerading as legitimate construction companies contracted by them. The defendants claimed that their bank details had changed, and provided account numbers which instead belonged to companies owned or controlled by the defendants. This is known as ‘divert fraud’, as the payments for these construction works were being diverted to other accounts.
Clare Tripcony, specialist fraud prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service said:
“I have authorised charges of conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to launder money and entering an arrangement to launder criminal property. In total, fifteen people are being charged with a variety of these offences.
“The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute.
“They will appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2015.
“May I remind all concerned that criminal proceedings will now be commenced and of the defendants’ right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
