Borough council to net £562,000 from fraudster after POCA confiscation order

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A local authority is to receive £562,000 as its share of a confiscation order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act against a convicted fraudster.

Details: 12.Sep.2014

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Hendrick Meniru was convicted at Luton Crown Court of operating international fraud schemes, following a five-week trial in March 2013.

He was prosecuted following an investigation by the Regulatory Services team at Bedford Borough Council. The court heard that the victims of the defendant’s schemes were often the elderly or vulnerable.

Meniru has now been ordered to pay £3m in total plus costs of £200,000.

Bedford said it would allocate £450,000 of the monies it stands to receive to fund 15 apprenticeships in a scheme with its training provider Bedford College.

A further £312,500 will be used to fund further legal and enforcement activities.

The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “We want to ensure that something positive can come out of this appalling, callous crime. This funding will be put to good use and shared between two vital purposes.”