AA former Accountant General employee, his wife and two others have been formally charged with various money laundering offences involving $2.5 million allegedly stolen from the Bermuda Government.
Jeffrey Bevan, 49, and Samantha Bevan, 51, from Cwmbran and Joel Ismail, 41, and Paul Charity, 51, both of Leicester appeared before the Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, April 28th.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro, of the Organised and Economic Crime Department, the charges stem from a number of financial transactions conducted by Mr Bevan whist employed in Accountant General’s office in Bermuda.
“The theft was discovered after Bevan and his wife left Bermuda, with the funds having been transferred by electronic means through a local financial institution,” said Mr Pedro.
A joint investigation was launched after the Bermuda Police Service was notified with the UK Regional Organised Crime Unit in Wales.
All four defendants are accused of laundering the proceeds of $2.5 million allegedly stolen from the Bermuda Government between May 2011 and June 2013.
Jeffry Bevan entered a not guilty plea to a further charge of theft, and his co-defendant, Paul Charity denied an additional charge of perverting the course of justice.
A trial date has been set for January 8th, 2018. All four were granted court bail unconditionally.
