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Latest News
£1million confiscation order
The London Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) has secured a confiscation order of £1,077,700 against 46-year old Siraj Patel, from Leyton. The order was made on 10 October 2006 at Southwark Crown Court where Mr Patel was also sentenced to 18 month's imprisonment after he was convicted of selling counterfeit goods, including well-known brands to various retail outlets across London. Mr Patel must pay the order within six months or face a further seven years' imprisonment being added to his sentence. Mr Patel was summonsed for offences relating to the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Trade Descriptions Act 1968 after officers from Trading Standards seized counterfeit goods at a premises belonging to him. A financial investigation conducted by RART revealed Patel had made a vast profit from selling counterfeit goods. The proceeds of Patel's criminal activity exceeded £1,000,000 and enabled him to purchase two residential properties and a large commercial premises in east London. This is believed to be one of the UK's largest local authority confiscation orders. Detective Inspector Mark Hewitt, Economic and Specialist Crime Command said: "This case highlights the innovation and dedication that has made the London RART the success it is today. By supporting our partners Hackney Trading Standards prosecution, the unit has shown that use of the confiscation process is a key tactic in making London a hostile place for those who would commit crime for financial gain." The London Regional Asset Recovery Team is made up of officers and staff from the Met, Customs and Excise , City of London Police , Asset Recovery Agency , the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service . It is part of a national network of teams set up by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers . The teams provide a multi-agency response to asset recovery by supporting investigations into criminals suspected of drug-related and other serious and organised crimes
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