Richard Pollett was extradited from Spain and today faced magistrates in a UK court over the offences, according to the Serious Fraud Office which is investigating the case. Pollett is also charged with making misleading statements.
He is accused, alongside Neil Hirst, Daniel Hirst, Linda Christine Hirst and Zoe Waite, of involvement in Gilher Inc, a Panama and Seychelles registered company, operated by John Hirst, which invested money on behalf of private clients mainly based in Spain and the UK. The SFO said the scheme attracted over £10m of investors’ funds with losses thought to be around £6m.
The investigation began in November 2009 following complaints made to the SFO by investors and has been carried out with the assistance of West Yorkshire Police and Surrey Police and overseas law enforcement authorities.