Case News from Bark & Co

We acted for this individual as one of ten individuals charged in relation to an alleged alcohol diversion fraud operated on a massive scale in 2009 and 2010. It was claimed that alcohol was purchased free of duty from bonded warehouses in France on false representations as to its onward transfer.

VO vs HMRC We successfully represented Mr Vahit Oktar in Operation Albany at Bristol Crown Court. This was a large-scale operation involving an international investigation into allegations of money laundering with elements of VAT fraud. Our client, who was one of 9 accused of facilitating a complex multi-million pound money laundering operation, stood trial over… Read more »

Bark&co are happy to report that in the case of R v Frederick Parr and Others (prosecuted by the Information Commissioners Office (“ICO”)) that the prosecution has today decided to offer no evidence against our client and all other co-Defendants. The case was heard at Warwick Crown Court. Mr. Frederick Parr first came to Bark&co… Read more »

R v Waqas ASLAM & 14 Ors [Operation Banjax] 2019 – Southwark Crown Court The case was an MTIC Fraud which was part and parcel of Import Duty Diversion on Beers, Wines and Spirits. According to HMRC the OCG were accountable for significant losses to the UK Exchequer through associated large scale VAT and Excise… Read more »

Former Nigerian International & Premier League footballer Sam Sodje was found not guilty of all allegations of money laundering in the Central Criminal Court on 21st January 2019. He was represented by Peter Finbow and Dean Armstrong QC of 36 Bedford Row. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46946503 https://news.sky.com/story/sodje-scandal-sporting-brothers-jailed-for-africa-charity-fraud-11613619

We successfully represented SH who was charged with being party to a large scale International Fraud against a number of Film Rental Equipment Companies who were based across the Globe. The Fraud was organised from the UK where the Organised Crime Group assumed the identities of some legitimate businesses in the industry. They were able… Read more »

After a 10 month trial at Southwark Crown Court, Bark&co secured the acquittal of a client charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the Revenue (Operation Amazon). This is said to have been the biggest and most complex direct tax fraud in British history and the potential loss was £107.92 million.  The scheme involved high net worth… Read more »

Giles Bark-Jones and Joe Pyne of Bark&co acted for X&Y in this important appeal which has established that (1) HMRC do have power to grant interim approvals to traders pending appeal to the FTT against AWRS refusals and (2) the High Court can grant an injunction to a trader pending appeal to the FTT if… Read more »

Senior Solicitor Maria Stalbow acts for Mr. R who has been charged along with four other British men, including three former Directors of Solar Energy Savings Limited. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud following the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into Solar Energy Savings Limited, PV Solar Direct Limited and Ultra Energy Global… Read more »

Senior Solicitor Dina Patel today successfully represented Mr A, at Manchester Crown Court, where the Prosecution offered no evidence against him. Mr A, was jointly charged with three others for Fraud by False Representation and Money Laundering. The Prosecution from the outset described the case, as a complex financial investigation, into significant levels of money… Read more »