Law360: New plans to tackle economic crime by creating an environment in which criminals 'fear both detection and prosecution' will land later in 2025, a senior British prosecutor said on 1 September 2025.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has successfully prosecuted Mohammed Uddin, who received a 28-month prison sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on 14 March 2025 for fraudulently obtaining £250,000 in coronavirus (COVID-19) bounce-back loans. Uddin pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by false representation and was disqualified from acting as a company director for five years. The National Investigation Service (NATIS) investigation revealed that he had submitted five fraudulent loan applications between May 2020 and November 2022, with £66,574.20 recovered to date.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has successfully prosecuted Aftab Baig for defrauding Leeds City Council of over £710,000 in coronavirus (Covid-19) small business grants. Baig was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of three counts of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. The fraud involved making false claims against 32 Greggs properties, with the funds being diverted to Baig's personal business account. While most of the money has been recovered, over £90,000 remains outstanding. The CPS has announced intentions to initiate proceedings to recover any assets resulting from this criminal activity.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that Craig Gibson, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, was sentenced on 3 March 2025 to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years at Liverpool Crown Court after being convicted of fraudulently obtaining over £95,000 through two COVID-19 Bounce Back Loans. Gibson submitted two fraudulent loan applications, one using his mother’s name and business without her knowledge to obtain £50,000, and another using his own company, Gibson Bowers Ltd, to obtain £45,412. The funds from both loans were used for his personal expenses rather than legitimate business purposes. An investigation revealed that Gibson’s company was not trading between 2019—2021, and he had exaggerated its turnover to secure the maximum loan amount. He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position of trust. The CPS has initiated confiscation proceedings to prevent Gibson from benefiting financially from his crimes.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has secured prison sentences against a former Home Office asylum officer and an asylum seeker for bribery offences. Imran Mulla received 4.5 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to immigration offences and bribery for manipulating asylum decisions for payment. His co-defendant Nural Amin Begh was sentenced to 18 months for paying £5,000 to have his rejected asylum application overturned. The convictions at Preston Crown Court followed an investigation into corruption within the Manchester asylum team.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has successfully prosecuted seven individuals connected to the construction industry for their involvement in a £22m tax fraud scheme. The defendants, sentenced at Southwark Crown Court, received prison terms ranging from 27 months to over nine years for offences including cheating the public revenue, money laundering and acquiring criminal property. The fraud involved creating fake payroll companies to avoid paying VAT and Construction Industry Scheme contributions to HMRC. The CPS worked closely with Kent Police and HMRC to build the case and has initiated proceeds of crime proceedings to recover the fraudulently obtained funds.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has secured convictions against four men in one of England and Wales' largest money laundering cases, with sentences handed down at Leeds Crown Court on 7 March 2025. Gregory Frankel, Daniel Rawson, Haroon Rashid and Arjun Babber received prison terms ranging from 10-11 years eight months for laundering £266m through Fowler Oldfield business. The case involved cash deliveries to multiple sites in Bradford and London, with the CPS now pursuing confiscation proceedings. The prosecution follows earlier convictions of 12 cash couriers and Financial Conduct Authority action against NatWest Bank for regulatory breaches.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has secured convictions against six defendants in a £2m bribery case including former senior staff at E.ON and British Gas. The case involved bribery payments exceeding £2m received in exchange for commercial contracts executed between 2011 and 2015. Charges were brought under the Bribery Act 2010, the Fraud Act 2006, and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, with matters proceeding upon the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. On 1 May 2025, at Winchester Crown Court, senior executives, Mark Baker and Matthew Heyward were sentenced to 3 years 10 months and 2.5 years of imprisonment, respectively. Four additional individuals received sentences ranging from suspended sentences to four years in prison. The CPS has confirmed that it will pursue proceedings to confiscate the proceeds obtained through this criminal activity.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has successfully prosecuted a company director and his wife, an employee at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), for their roles in a £3m money laundering operation. Ranbir Singh was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of money laundering, while Kuldip Badesha received a 14-month suspended sentence for misconduct in public office. The case, handled by the CPS Serious Economic Organised and International Directorate (SEOCID), uncovered Singh's use of dormant companies and Badesha's abuse of her HMRC position to facilitate the scheme. The CPS has initiated proceedings to recover the criminal proceeds, emphasising the detrimental impact of money laundering on the UK economy.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has secured convictions against four individuals for corruption in the demolition industry, with prison sentences handed down at Southwark Crown Court. Arben Hysa received 3.5 years imprisonment for paying over £600,000 in bribes to three Keltbray managers between 2012-2018, through which his company secured £15m in contracts. The three managers Michael McCarthy, John Burke and Simon Lacey has received sentences ranging from 2 to 3.5 years for accepting bribes. The CPS will pursue confiscation proceedings to recover criminal proceeds.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced the prosecution of four individuals for corruption in the demolition industry. Arben Hysa was found guilty of bribing three Keltbray managers with over £600,000 between 2012 and 2018, whilst his company benefited from £15m worth of contracts. The Keltbray managers - Michael McCarthy, Simon Lacey, and John Burke - were convicted of receiving bribes in breach of their obligations to their employer. The CPS, with the personal consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, launched this prosecution following a Home Office investigation. The CPS has announced it will commence confiscation proceedings to reclaim the ill-gotten gains from the defendants' criminal activities.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced the conviction and sentencing of 14 defendants for their involvement in a £28m investment fraud that exploited over 3,500 victims. The defendants were convicted at Southwark Crown Court following four trials held over two years, with sentences ranging from suspended terms to seven and a half years imprisonment for ringleader Mark Rowe. The fraud involved a 'bait and switch' scheme targeting timeshare owners, typically aged 55-80, who were sold worthless investment products called 'Monster Credits' after being promised assistance with disposing of their timeshares. The scheme operated through businesses based in Tenerife and the UK, with defendants using fraudulent advertising, cold calling, and hard sales techniques to persuade victims to purchase the worthless investments for sums ranging from £6,000 to £80,000. The CPS worked with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit in the six-year investigation and will now pursue recovery of assets through its Proceeds of Crime Division.