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Six immigration officers have been charged Money laundering After investigating the theft from migrants,
Six officers were suspended and arrested home office Investigations into theft and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022, three of which were later dismissed.
Five officials have been charged with conspiracy to commit theft and misconduct in public office Crown Prosecution Service The announcement was made on Tuesday.
All six have been charged Money launderingOne of the officers, Besmir Matera of Reigate, Surrey, has also been charged with fraudulently obtaining leave to enter and remain in the UK and possessing an identity document with improper intent,
CPS Special Crimes Division chief Malcolm McHaffie said Matera, 36, Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, Jon Bernthal, 53, Ben Edwards, 45, Jack Mitchell, 33, and David Grundy, 43, have been charged. home office Investigation of thefts from migrants and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022”.
All six defendants will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court next month.
Mr McHaffie said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is enough evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with the Home Office Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigation Unit as they conducted their investigation.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “These are extremely worrying allegations and it is right that criminal proceedings are now taking their course.
“When this information came to light, all these six persons were immediately suspended.
“We expect all of our officers to meet the highest standards. Where those standards are breached, we will take action without hesitation.”
The CPS said it wanted to remind everyone that this case is active and that it is “important that no reporting, comment or information should be shared online that could in any way adversely affect these proceedings”.
Matera, of Reigate, Surrey, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft; misconduct in public office; Concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property; fraudulently obtaining leave to enter the United Kingdom; and three counts of possessing identity documents with improper intent.
Evanson, of Bracknell, Berkshire, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft; misconduct in public office; and concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
Bernthal, of Welling, southeast London, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft; misconduct in public office; and concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
Edwards, of Bexleyheath, south-east London, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft; misconduct in public office; and concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
Mitchell, of Dover, Kent, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft; misconduct in public office; and concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
Grundy, of Croydon, south London, has been charged with concealing, concealing, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.