Rich crooks battle to keep hold of swag

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 14:48

WEALTHY crooks are fighting efforts to seize their ill-gotten gains "every step of the way".

Robert Amaee, who heads the Serious Fraud Office proceeds of crime unit, said criminals will use every opportunity to obstruct their pursuers, and the crime-fighting agency has revamped its operations in a bid to intercept stolen cash and assets.

The barrister's comments came after the SFO's annual report revealed it seized only 2.6 million during the last financial year. The figure was a drop in the ocean when compared with crimes worth up to 6 billion in the agency's sights.

Mr Amaee said: "It is in the interests of bad guys to fight it every step of the way. Even when you get an order, enforcing it is another problem.

"It is quite easy for them to challenge it every step of the way because they know it is in their financial interests to do it.

"We have taken a conscious decision to focus on this and it is now at the core of everything we do."