Julian King secures Confiscation Order in relation to Proceeds of Crime case

January 29, 2021

In a case heard at the Nightingale Crown Court, The Lowry, Julian King from Exchange Chambers made an application under s.28 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. This was an application for a significant confiscation order in respect of a defendant who is neither convicted nor acquitted.

The Defendant, Erjiroghene Kevin Metieh faced a trial for an elaborate advance fee / romance fraud, whereby a victim was induced to make sizeable transfers of monies to accounts controlled by a number of fraudsters. The offenders adopted false identifies and induced payments to be made through creating a relationship with the victim. False representations including stories of business concerns and health issues meant numerous transfers were made to accounts controlled by the offenders, including this defendant.

The Defendant escaped the jurisdiction ahead of his trial in November 2018. The court ruled it was not possible to have a trial in his absence. As such, significant seized assets were not captured by confiscation proceedings. Following a detailed application under this seldom used area of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an order of approximately a quarter of a million pounds was made. A compensation order was sought and made for the victim in this case.

Julian specialises in a range of regulatory, fraud and confiscation cases. This case was brought through the Crown Prosecution Service Proceeds of Crime Unit.