UK holds $65 million in alleged criminal bank account

Robert Besser
29 Nov 2022, 03:38 GMT+10

The UK National Crime Agency has obtained a civil recovery order for some $65 million of suspected criminal property held in Barclays Bank
The money is likely "the proceeds of unlawful conduct," the National Crime Agency's lawyers told London's High Court
Judge Robin Knowles said he was prepared to make the civil recovery order "without hesitation."

LONDON, England: The UK National Crime Agency has obtained a civil recovery order for some $65 million of suspected criminal property held in Barclays Bank.

The money is likely "the proceeds of unlawful conduct," the National Crime Agency's lawyers told London's High Court.

According to court documents, Andrew Sutcliffe, representing the National Crime Agency, said that the agency will establish a claim scheme to allow the owners of the suspect account to request the return of the money, if they can prove that it is not criminal property.

Judge Robin Knowles said he was prepared to make the civil recovery order "without hesitation."

In response, Barclays Bank stated, "We welcome the High Court's ruling, which enables the funds to be transferred to the National Crime Agency to support further their efforts in stopping fraud and economic crime."

Adrian Searle, director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the National Crime Agency, said, "The money will be credited to the public purse and a portion used to fund a range of work, including programs designed to prevent fraud and protect potential victims," as quoted by Reuters.

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