Fraud Team Successfully Defend Conspiracy to Defraud Client

Laura Smith and Sundeep Soor, Solicitors in Cartwright King’s Fraud team, have successfully defended a client who was charged with Conspiracy to Defraud at Inner London Crown Court.

Our client was one of two defendants who were acquitted out of 8 defendants in total, with the case relating to fraudulent insurance claims made in excess of £1m. Counsel Ian Jobling of Reform Chambers was instructed and the trial lasted 6 weeks.

Various legal arguments were put forward at the start of the trial as a result of last minute disclosure of phone, computer and electronic storage device evidence by the CPS. A complex s8 application for disclosure was made in relation to the raw material obtained from those electronic devices as the Crown wanted to serve limited material. Expert evidence was called in relation to handwriting and forensic accounting which resulted in overseas enquiries being made.

Laura Smith said of the case:

“This case highlighted what is becoming a regular occurrence in criminal prosecutions – the Crown’s failures to properly investigate, obtain and disclose all material available. By requesting third party material that the Crown had failed to obtain allowed the defence to carry out a more thorough review of the evidence served. With the support of expert analysis this resulted in us being able to evidence clearly the lack of this defendant’s involvement in and links to the frauds alleged”.

If you have been accused of being involved in fraudulent activity, contact our Fraud team here.