Five men including former lawyers jailed over money laundering crimes

FIVE men are behind bars for money laundering which included the bank account of a football club owner being hacked.

Former lawyers Iain Robertson, 69, David Lyons, 71, and Alistair Blackwood, 68, along with Mohammed Aziz, 61, and Robert Ferguson, 67, were convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

A total of almost £ 1.5 million of dirty money was funnelled through the client account of Robertson’s law firm in Paisley, Renfrewshire to make it look legitimate.

Prosecutors said Lyons and Aziz had closer links to those behind the large- scale crime with Blackwood and Ferguson also playing vital roles.

All five had denied being involved with Robertson insisting he had been duped and that his firm had targeted by criminals.

Robertson and Lyons, both of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, as well as Aziz, of Glasgow’s Partick, were convicted of a charge of being involved in serious organised crime.

The trio as well as Blackwood, of Dunlop, Ayrshire, and Ferguson, of Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, were also found guilty of charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Robertson a total of six, Lyons four, Aziz four, Blackwood and Ferguson both two.

Robertson and Lyons were further guilty of a fraud charge.

Lord Richardson withdrew bail for all five as sentencing was deferred until the New Year.

The charges spanned between 2015 and 2016.

The trial was sparked after a Law Society of Scotland probe into the Robertson and Ross legal firm in Causeyside Street, Paisley.

The case focused on four separate money laundering transactions.

Bogus paperwork as well as fake identification – including a passport and driving licence – were put together to help cover up what was really happening.

The biggest theft involved the bank account of a multimillionaire businessman

– who is also the owner of a UK football club – being targeted.

Jurors heard how £ 985,000 was swiped and ended up in the client account of Robertson’s firm.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Alan Cameron said: “The man had never had any business or communication with Robertson and Ross.”

The stolen sum was then sent back in two lots – at the same time the Law Society was carrying out an inspection at the law firm.

But, the full amount was then later returned to the company client account.

Prosecutors said Aziz had directed the mystery criminals to transfer the cash there.

Robertson and Blackwood then helped try make the crime appear legal.

The businessman targeted was only aware what happened when his bank’s fraud team alerted him.

Robertson gave evidence and was in the witness box for more than a week.

He denied being ‘ a gambler’ and pinned the blame on on others including Lyons.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Mr Cameron stated: “Robertson’s part in this was plain.

“He had access to the client account ... and pay out to others all while making it seem transactions were legitimate.

“From the evidence, David Lyons appeared to be one step closer to the criminals as he was the one repeatedly telling Robertson a payment was coming.”

Sentencing was deferred for reports.