October 2011 – Saunders secures acquittal in international money laundering case

Saunders Law Limited has secured an acquittal for ARG, a Colombian businessman, accused of two counts of money laundering. It was alleged by the Crown Prosecution Service that $200,000 and ^a'not250,000 that ARG transported from Colombia to the United Kingdom was the proceeds of criminal activity.

Director, Callum Haddow, led the defence team, with Solicitor-Advocate Ravi Dogra representing ARG at Southwark Crown Court.

Mr Haddow said: "My client maintained his innocence from the outset and we were able to prove beyond doubt that he was a legitimate businessman. With an international element, these proceedings called upon the firm's skill and technical excellence to secure the right result for the client".

ARG was initially arrested in London in August 2007. To prepare the case, the team at Saunders Law travelled to Bogota to investigate the allegation, trace and interview witnesses.

The Crown's allegation was that the banknotes were the proceeds of large scale drug trafficking by Colombian cocaine cartels. ARG's account was that this was a legitimate commercial enterprise that made profits on the spread of exchange rates for bank notes and electronic money in Colombia. Lasting over two weeks, the trial involved evidence from an officer from the United States Department for Homeland Security and a lawyer from the Colombian tax and revenue authorities.

Saunders Law Limited is a central London law firm with 37 years' litigation experience, particularly known for its work in criminal defence, motoring, fraud and litigation. The firm is renowned for taking cases on appeal to the Court of Appeal, House of Lords, and European Court of Justice, or by way of Judicial Review to the High Court. Karen Sturman and Callum Haddow drive the traditional crime department, representing defendants in high-profile and complex trials and appeals. From securing the first ever insider dealing FSA defeat in R v Rimmington, to appearing in the first ever English non-jury trial since Oliver Cromwell (R v Twomey), the firm provides a service without compromise and a fearless commitment to clients.