Tom Hoskins successfully defeated the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit’s application for an Account Forfeiture Order over £65,000 on behalf of his Traveller client accused of committing fraud, handling stolen goods, money laundering and tax evasion.

Tom successfully argued that the Applicant had failed to demonstrate dual criminality in respect of conduct that allegedly occurred in Germany. He also succeeded (following the officer who conducted the 18-month investigation being called to give evidence), in demonstrating that the SEROCU had failed to adequately specify the nature of the criminal conduct so as to render the money recoverable, and had misapplied and fundamentally misunderstood where the burden of proof lay in this type of application. As a result, the District Judge dismissed the Application.

Tom was instructed by Sarah Colby at Bennett & Co solicitors.