Immigration officers charged with stealing from migrants | EUROtoday

Six immigration officers have been charged with cash laundering after an investigation into thefts from migrants.

The six officers have been suspended and arrested after a Home Office investigation into theft and cash laundering between August 2021 and November 2022, with three subsequently dismissed.

Five of the officers are charged with conspiracy to steal and misconduct in public workplace, the Crown Prosecution Service introduced on Tuesday.

All six have been charged with cash laundering. One of the officers, Besmir Matera, of Reigate, Surrey, can also be charged with acquiring depart to enter and stay within the UK by deception and possessing an identification doc with improper intention.

Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Malcolm McHaffie mentioned Matera, 36, Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, John Bernthal, 53, Ben Edwardes, 45, Jack Mitchell, 33, and David Grundy, 43, have been charged “following a Home Office investigation into thefts from migrants and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022”.

All six defendants will seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Court subsequent month.

Mr McHaffie mentioned: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient 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’s Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigations Unit as they carried out their investigation.”

A Home Office spokesperson mentioned: “These are extremely concerning allegations and it is right that criminal proceedings now run their course.

“When this information came to light, all six of these individuals 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 mentioned it wished to remind everybody that this case is energetic and it’s “vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings”.

Matera, of Reigate, Surrey, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public workplace; concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property; acquiring depart to enter to stay within the United Kingdom by deception; and three counts of possession of an identification doc with improper intention.

Evanson, of Bracknell, Berkshire, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public workplace; and concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property.

Bernthal, of Welling, southeast London, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public workplace; and concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property.

Edwardes, of Bexleyheath, southeast London, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public workplace; and concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property.

Mitchell, of Dover, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public workplace; and concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property.

Grundy, of Croydon, south London, is charged with concealing, disguising, changing, transferring or eradicating felony property.