UK: first "Super-ASBO" orders made

An ASBO is an "Anti Social Behaviour Order" and no self respecting 14 year old lout goes without one. When the UK's Home Office proposed extending the concept to serious criminals, it seemed to have all the hallmarks of a political statement.

Now the first order has been made. Were the detractors wrong?

Loch Hakimsada and his his wife Praveen Hakimsada with Kuljeet Grover have been sentenced to a total of seventeen years in jail for laundering money for organised crime networks. They used a money transmission service to launder more than GBP25 million in a little more than two years.

Another gang member, Christopher Harrison, was sentenced to a year in jail but not made subject to the Serious Crime Prevention Order.

The laundering process was simple: bags of cash - resulting from drugs trafficking and other smuggling- in both English and Scottish banknotes, were handed to the gang, usually in public places like car parks. They took the bags to the couple's home where it was counted using machines.

The funds were then transferred abroad. The primary destination was Dubai. At the other end, other persons, suspected of being family members, made the money disappear.

Loch and Praveen Hakimzada and Grover were given Financial Reporting Ordersrequiring them to report all their financial details every year and on release every 6 months for 10 years. This isn't new - other orders in similar terms have been made in recent weeks.

The SCPO provides that for 5 years from the day they are released from prison, members of the gang will be at risk of an additional 5 years in prison if they breach the Orders - which are designed to stop them carrying out activities related to the possession and movement of money.

Loch Hakimzada and Grover are subject to deportation orders to be given effect on their release from prison.

The Serious Crime Act 2007 came into force in April 2008. Enforcement agencies are able to apply to a Judge for conditions to be set to come into force on release.

So, is it worth the effort?

It looks an awful lot like parole with stringent conditions. But that wouldn't have enable the creation of a brand name and the making of press releases to crow. And in the spin-driven thing that is the UK's present government, that would not have done at all.

Due diligence information:

Loch HAKIMZADA - 9 years' imprisonment

Praveen HAKIMZADA - 4 years' imprisonment

Kuljeet GROVER - 4 years' imprisonment

Christopher HARRISON - 1 year's imprisonment