A local man was charged with money laundering offences yesterday by detectives from the RGP’S Economic Crime Unit.

The charges follow a complex cross-border financial investigation that started in 2017.

Vishal ASWANI, 36, an accountant, of Montagu Gardens, who has been on police bail since February 2020, was yesterday charged with: 

1. Being concerned in an arrangement, which facilitated the use of criminal property by another and the use of approximately £4,779,159.26, the said being Criminal Property, between 2014 and 2020.

2. Fraud by false representation in the sum of approximately £871,143.51 for having made a misrepresentation to the Income Tax office regarding his income between 2015 and 2019.

3. Being concerned in an arrangement, which facilitated the use of criminal property by another, of €50,000 to purchase a Motor Vessel, the said €50,000 being the proceeds of Criminal Conduct, between 2015 and 2016.

4. Being concerned in an arrangement, which facilitated the use of criminal property by another relating to the purchase of a Property in Ocean Village for approximately £1,075,000, the said funds being Criminal Property in 2018.

5. Acquisition of criminal property relating to the use of approximately £125,000 to purchase 2 Vaults at Chatham Counterguard, the said £125,000 being Criminal Conduct in 2019.

In addition, Avinash RUPANI, 35, of Ocean Village, of Southease Ltd was also arrested and charged yesterday with the offence of:

1. Carrying out a regulated activity without authority by converting €2,105,430 in cash from Euro into Sterling for ASWANI.