Ill-gotten millions overdue
BY STUART MACDONALD reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk WEALTHY criminals targeted under “dirty money” laws have failed to hand over £7million of their ill-gotten gains.
Prosecutors boasted they are taking millions every year under the Proceeds of Crime Act and diverting the money into community projects.
But many of the crooks – such as fraudsters, drug dealers and money launderers, – still owe cash years after confiscation orders were imposed on them by courts. Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) figures released under freedom of information laws show there is £6,982,149 outstanding in confiscation orders compared to £6,578,568 last year.
Almost £3.5million is owed by just 10 people.
As of last month, Edinburgh brothel boss Margaret Paterson, 65, had the largest amount outstanding at £780,440.
Scottish Tories justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said: “The concept of taking money back from criminals and putting it into the
Top 10 criminals that won’t pay
NAME 1. Margaret Paterson 2. Jacqueline McPhie 3. Alexander Cameron 4. Conrad Chau 5. Mohammed Rafiq 6. James Mangan 7. Mohammed Omar
Hameed 8. Michael Voudouri 9. John Lamberton 10. Unknown VALUE OF ORDER £1,000,000 £587,434 £525,000 £432,000 £250,000 £383,222 £222,900 £207,339 £200,000 £188,256 community is sound. But it seems this legislation is increasingly toothless, with millions outstanding.”
Scottish Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson MSP said: “These are deeply troubling figures. Reclaiming illicit earnings from criminals is a crucial part of the justice process and it is particularly concerning to see so few people owing so much.
“Given organised crime is making fear and violence part of everyday life for some Scottish communities it is essential every possible tool VALUE OUTSTANDING £780,440 £553,718.77 £525,000 £331,935.30 £250,000 £225,943 £208,061 £207,339 £197,400 £188,256 DATE IMPOSED 25/05/2015 14/11/2016 12/05/2014 26/07/2017 27/03/2015 21/05/2012 7/06/2017 25/05/2015 3/02/2012 2/05/2018 is available to target gangland kingpins.”
The SCTS said £5.3million of the money outstanding was “in arrears” while £1.6million was “on track” to be paid through installments.
They added: “By its nature, a confiscation order is a financial penalty which may take some time to recover in full.”
The Scottish Government said powers introduced last year to seize assets gained through crime would make enforcement of confiscation orders “easier and faster”.