Operation Diazoma: Magistrates Set Aside Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) Against Fahrid Chishty’s Client

Fahrid Chishty represented a client at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in connection with Part V POCA proceedings.

The client was alleged by the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU) to have received over £140,000 into his personal and business accounts which represented the proceeds of a series of frauds perpetrated against the Kuwait Health Office, a wing of the Embassy of Kuwait in London.

Fahrid and his instructing solicitors, Connaught Law Ltd, submitted detailed representations to the Applicant authorities, setting out the client’s position that he was a legitimate businessman.

On 28th March 2022, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court made orders under Section 303Z4 POCA to set aside the AFOs against three of the client’s accounts, with the Applicant confirming that the monies, on analysis, did not represent recoverable property.

As a result, more than £90,000 will be immediately released and returned to the client.