FRAUD CHARGES LINKED TO MURDER PROBE
TWO people have appeared in court accused of fraud and on money-laundering charges as part of an investigation into the murder of a retired photography lecturer.
Richard Wyn Lewis and his partner, Siwan Maclean, both of Llanfair yn Neubwll near Valley, Anglesey, appeared before magistrates at Caernarfon yesterday. Lewis, 49, faces six charges and Maclean, 51, one charge.
It is alleged Lewis committed fraud and “made a false representation, namely to planning and the sale of Gof Du, the sale of horses, the sale of a Citroen motor vehicle and the purchase of a property and land at Llanddona to Gerald Corrigan and Marie Bailey, intending to make a gain, namely financial, for yourself ”.
Three of the other charges relate to making false representations during the purchase and sale of horses, North Wales Live reports.
The remaining charges are in connection with carrying out building work and planning applications.
Maclean is accused of “becoming concerned in an arrangement which you knew or suspected facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property, namely a bank deposit of £50,046, by or on behalf of another person, namely Richard Wyn Lewis”.
During the seven-minute hearing both Lewis and Maclean spoke only to confirm their personal details and informed the clerk they were giving no indication of their pleas to the charges.
Prosecutor Julia Galston told the magistrates their sentencing powers were insufficient to deal with the matter and asked for the case to be sent to the crown court.
Solicitors for both defendants raised no issue and the court agreed with Ms Galston.
Bench chairman Gordon Browne said: “You’ve heard what has been said. This case is now being sent to the crown court and will next be heard at the crown court in Caernarfon on September 14.”
Both Lewis and Maclean were granted unconditional bail.
Police said the charges followed a “parallel fraud investigation” launched in May 2019, following the crossbow shooting of Gerald Corrigan.
The murder inquiry was one of the biggest ever seen on Anglesey.
Sports therapist Terence Whall, 39, was found guilty of his murder and is currently serving a life sentence for his murder.
Whall was ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years of his sentence.
Three other men were also jailed for their part in helping Whall to try to conceal evidence.