Defendants who are otherwise law abiding people get caught out telling stupid lies to the Police and Courts without realising the dire consequences of getting caught.
FRAUD
Insights from a Leading Criminal Barrister
In the New Test of Dishonesty the defendant can no longer use his own standards or what he understands the standards of society to be as a defence.
The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) is a tool designed to help enforcement agencies tackle the longstanding issue of unexplained wealth in the UK. This has been recently highlighted in the media in recent press articles and fictionalised television series such as McMafia.
Section 33 is one of the most prosecuted offences under the of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it covers all manner of depositing of waste from small scale ‘fly tipping’ to industrial scale waste disposal.
Quentin Hunt is an experienced jury advocate who specialises in effective cross examination of witnesses and the tactical deployment of defence evidence at trial.
Following oral submissions by Quentin the appeal was allowed by the Court. The sentence of 24 months imprisonment was reduced by half to one of 12 months. This meant that VP was eligible for release on a home detention curfew tag the week after the hearing in the Court of Appeal.
Quentin looks at common characteristics between 'boiler room' fraud cases and provides some important insights about the operation of the law in this area
what can I do if I am accused of fraud and what are the defences to fraud charges?
Quentin represented AM, the “kingpin” leader of an organised criminal group who were responsible for a multi million-pound fraud involving compromising bank accounts of members of the public
Quentin has been asked to speak on the topic of 'Criminal Law as it relates to Social Media' at the prestigious Legal Aspects of Social Media 2016 Conference hosted by Central Law Training and held at the DeVere London Bars
How can couples protect their assets in confiscation proceedings, how can a partner protect their interests in confiscation proceedings and when should a partner assert interest in Confiscation proceedings? Confiscation or enforcement?
Quentin was instructed to appear at a sentencing hearing to represent an accountant at Birmingham Crown Court
This article will explore the general principles of personal liability of directors for criminal offences and examine what I have found to be the most common examples of such liability coming before the criminal courts
Although there are many direct access qualified barristers only a very small minority of those at the Bar are qualified to conduct litigation. This can have an enormous effect upon the conduct of your case.
Quentin reduces confiscation order by over £1.5 Million
Quentin represented Mr AH, an accountant who was facing trial at the Warwick Crown Court accused of various counts of conspiracy to defraud.
Quentin appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on behalf of KA a company director who was due to stand trial on an indictment containing five counts of Fraud. The case revolved around the trade in financial instruments and Commercial Mortgage Obligations to the value of over €57,000,000 in Northern Europe and South America. Read further to find out more..
Applications for special procedure production orders are some of the most common applications before the Crown Court. Many Crown Courts will hear a few applications in a 9:30am list before trials or case management hearings and each numbered application can contain any number of substantive sub-applications against different institutions. Most applications for special production orders are not opposed as they are made as against financial or other institutions who will not produce material without such an order and will not oppose the order being sought.
Quentin appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on behalf of SP, a University student accused of perpetuating a large scale eBay Fraud involving the cloning of credit cards and the misuse of Transport For London Oyster Cards. Following the close of the prosecution case Quentin argued that the case on the first and most serious count on the indictment should be withdrawn from the jury. The judge agreed and the count was withdrawn from the jury and a Not Guilty verdict was entered on her behalf.
VAT fraud is big business. How big? Well it is very difficult to estimate the exact amount of money that is defrauded but the case of Federation of Technological Industries estimated that in 2002-03 the cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer was between £1.65 and £2.64 billion. By 2005-6 an EU think tank estimated that this figure had increased to some £10 billion. Read further to find out more..
Changes to the criminal justice system of late have been very much focussed on encouraging defendants to plead guilty. ‘Early guilty plea’ schemes have been rolled out across the country and a full discount for pleading guilty is only available if the plea is entered at the first opportunity, often before the evidence has been served by the prosecution in proper and full form. Read further to find out more ..
Section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 relates to the offence of failing to disclose information. The offence is wide ranging and can cover a number of circumstances. An example would be where a person makes an insurance claim for a ring that they believed had been stolen. They report this to their insurance company and make a claim. They subsequently receive an insurance payout of £15,000 for the ring. Read further to find out more..
If you are being investigated or have been charged with an offence of VAT fraud it is essential that you seek specialist legal representation at an early stage. How the matter is conducted from the outset will shape the course of the case against you. Read further to find out more ..
If you are being investigated or have been charged with an offence of VAT fraud it is essential that you seek specialist legal representation at an early stage. How the matter is conducted from the outset will shape the course of the case against you. Careful consideration of the evidence is essential as well as an excellent working knowledge of this sort of case and experience in dealing with HMRC and the CPS. Read further to find out more ..
G O-M was a lady with no previous convictions accused of a fraud carried out upon the London Borough of Southwark. Mr Hunt's client had maintained her innocence throughout. The matter related to a large investigation into housing fraud where an employee of Southwark Council had already pleaded guilty to various offences. Read more..
If you have been accused of an Offence of Fraud you will need to consult a specialist lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the options available to you. Fraud is a huge area of the law and a detailed summary if impossible in a short article however below is a basic summary of the law. Read this to find out more..
