Ahsan Javaid, a former money exchange bureau chief of British Pakistani descent, is suing Scotland Yard to recover nearly £600,000 that was confiscated by the police. This comes after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to prove its £34 million money laundering case against him, resulting in the high-profile trial’s conclusion and Javaid’s acquittal.
Central to Javaid’s lawsuit against the London police are four laptops seized by Scotland Yard during raids in November 2017. These laptops were returned nearly four years later, but Javaid alleges they were tampered with, passwords were changed, and key evidence proving his rightful ownership of the seized cash was destroyed following his acquittal.
Javaid, his wife Amna Gulzar, and two others were initially arrested in November 2017 and charged in May 2018 with conspiring to launder £34 million between 2012 and 2018. They were accused of using false identities to set up sham companies and accounts, hiding cash in 43 bank accounts before transferring the money from the UK to Pakistan and other countries. However, the trial ended due to failures by the police and the prosecution to present adequate evidence.
Despite Javaid’s acquittal in October 2021, the police did not return the seized £600,000, citing the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). This law allows the police to seize money without formal charges if they suspect the funds are recoverable property or intended for unlawful use. Javaid has since taken legal action against the police, alleging discrimination and wrongful conduct.
The trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court was halted due to “systemic and catastrophic” failures in evidence disclosure by the prosecution. Judge Charles Falk condemned the CPS for its lack of preparedness and failure to provide sufficient evidence nearly two months into the trial. He stated that the investigation had grown too large without adequate resources or expertise.
Although Ahsan Javaid and his family celebrated the end of the trial, his ordeal continued as the police refused to return the seized funds. Javaid asserts that he was unfairly treated because of his Pakistani origin, suggesting that others in his situation would have received different treatment from UK authorities.
Javaid maintains that the money transfers to Pakistan were legitimate remittance payments, with his companies fully registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). He argues that the CPS attempted to pressure him into pleading guilty despite lacking evidence. Javaid refused to concede, and the trial ultimately ended due to the prosecution’s unpreparedness.
After the trial, the police returned Javaid’s laptops, but he claims they were tampered with, and key evidence supporting the legitimacy of his trading activities was compromised. He is now requesting a forensic inspection of the laptops to determine what actions the police took.
Ahsan Javaid states he was detained for over 27 months without committing any crime, describing the experience as a nightmare for his family. He criticizes the POCA, which places the burden of proof on the accused and requires the police to return seized items in their original condition. Javaid’s legal battle seeks to hold the police accountable for their alleged misconduct.
A CPS spokesperson acknowledged a failure to follow reasonable lines of inquiry, leading to an unsuccessful attempt to adjourn the trial to gather more evidence. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they made several applications for cash forfeiture under POCA, which were granted in January 2023. However, Javaid is currently appealing these forfeiture orders.
The police have denied any manipulation of the laptops, stating that allegations of password changes or unlawful tampering are disputed. They emphasize that an acquittal in criminal proceedings does not preclude cash forfeiture, as a different standard of proof applies.
