Mohammed Aslam Jalal found not guilty of alleged £200 million money laundering fraud

An investigation described by HM Revenue and Customs in May 2011 as concerning the money laundering of £200 million, and involving 250 of its investigators, assisted by officers from a number of police forces, has this week collapsed against five defendants.

Operation Enigma concerned the alleged laundering of criminal proceeds via KS Money Transfer, situated at 19 Tweedale Street in Rochdale.

Lewis Hymanson Small acted on behalf of the principal Defendant,  Mohammed Aslam Jalal. They challenged the evidence put forward by the Prosecution and its reliability.

The matter was due to be heard at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday 3 September 2013. The Prosecution offered no evidence thereby allowing not guilty verdicts to be entered against Mr Jalal and others.

Imran Khan, Partner at Lewis Hymanson Small Solicitors said: "This is a highly satisfying conclusion to a matter which was pursued with great vigour by HM Revenue and Customs.

"It is unfortunate that Mr Jalal, his son and his daughter have had to go through criminal proceedings for over two and a half years, but I hope they find some solace in the fact that they can now continue with their lives without a stain on their characters."

Mohammed Aslam Jalal said: "I am delighted to have cleared my name against criminal proceedings which I believe should never have been brought against myself, my son and my daughter. 

"We have been through a terrible ordeal but I am grateful that we can now continue to rebuild our lives. I have always protested as to my innocence and the outcome this week will go some way to rebuilding my reputation which was unfairly tarnished.

"It is concerning that the Prosecution had in their possession significant material, which they failed to appreciate. Had the Prosecution investigated the allegations against me with the same vigilance that they adopted towards restraining my assets and restricting my liberty then perhaps a significant amount of public expense would have been spared.

"Whilst the business owned by my son and daughter, KS Money Transfer, has been destroyed without any justification, they will be taking immediate steps to rebuild the business.

"I shall also be taking legal advice in relation to the obvious failures by the Prosecution in pursuing this matter.

"I would like to thank my family and friends for all their support and in particular my Solicitors Ian Lewis and Imran Khan of Lewis Hymanson Small Solicitors for their commitment, loyalty and the tenacity shown by them to clear my name."