Laundered cash paid for trio’s lavish lifestyles
THREE money launderers used their proceeds to fund a lifestyle of long-haul trips with five-star hotel stays and luxury cars.
Ebrahim Ege, 33 and Amer Aslam, 35, from Cardiff, and Emma Cummings, 30, from Penarth, were convicted at Newport Crown Court on Friday after an investigation across the south Wales region.
The trio lived extravagant lifestyles, with regular trips to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other long-haul destinations, and often stayed at five-star resorts.
The arrests came as part of Operation Dogstar, carried out by the Regional Asset Recovery Team based in Bridgend.
The investigation began in 2010 and inquiries were made throughout the UK and across the globe including in New Zealand, Canada, India and Dubai
Financial investigator Lee Jones, who led the investigation, said: “The evidence showed that cash from unknown sources was used to purchase high-value prestige vehicles and a number of properties in the Cardiff area.
“On occasions third-party accounts were used to hide the true source of cash.
“Direct cash payments were made for both the purchase of some of the vehicles and some of the properties.
“Ebrahim Ege started using a motor business called Edge Performance Cars Ltd located initially at Mandeville Place, Riverside, Cardiff, and later at premises at Main Road, Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taff, to launder these funds. His co-conspirators Emma Jane Cummings and Amer Aslam used their bank accounts to launder funds and their names were used to register vehicles or property in their names in order to hide the true owners. Emma Jane Cummings was Ege’s partner at the time of the offences.”
The three were convicted after the jury heard the organised crime group was purchasing high-value cars including Porsches, BMWs, Audis and Mercedes Benzes.
They also purchased properties at Mandeville Place and Tudor Street and Mark Street in Cardiff and Gladstone Road, Barry. Many of these were in paid for in cash.
Despite their lifestyle, HMRC provided evidence the conspirators declared very little legitimate income, but laundered cash in excess of £500,000.
Ege was sentenced to four years, while Aslam and Cummings received 18 months each.