This in from the Police, in their own words. Ed
An Isle of Wight conman convicted for multi-million pound fraud has had over £300,000 of benefit seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit worked to secure the successful confiscation of assets worth over £300,000 from the 65 year old conman, formerly of Spring Gardens, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
During a hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, 4 March, it was confirmed that the conman had benefited from his criminal activity to the total of £690,067.93.
Attempted to steal £2.5m
The conman is currently in prison serving a three-and-a-half year sentence for attempting to steal £2.5 million from insurance companies. A jury heard how the conman used a false identity to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards and take out mortgages.
Based on evidence provided during the recent hearing, Judge Hetherington granted the confiscation of £180,266.40 which is the total sum of assets currently available to the conman. The Financial Investigation Unit had already achieved an order for a cash seizure of £148,471.20 late last year. The cumulative amount of the confiscation and seizure equals £328,737.69; the conman has been given six months to pay the outstanding confiscation order.
“Crime does not pay”
DI Dave Brown from Hampshire Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit said, “Those who benefit from their crimes must be seen by the law abiding majority not to benefit from their crimes. This case sends a strong message that crime does not pay.”
DC Iain Robertson, the investigating officer in the original case to convict Sallam said, “There were hundreds of hours spent obtaining information from the Egyptian authorities, banks and credit card companies, and going through documents. To say it was not an easy investigation would be an understatement. This case should serve as a warning to criminals about our skill and persistence in pursuing complex enquiries successfully. The court recognised the careful and sensitive way in which this investigation was handled by Hampshire Constabulary in difficult circumstances. The use of the Proceeds of Crime Act proves that convicted offenders will not be allowed to keep the profits of their crimes.”
Image: Kevin Dooley under CC BY 2.0
