Lewis Power QC and Michael Polak Secure a Retrial Acquittal for Alleged £20m Tobacco Fraud Mastermind

Church Court Chambers’ Lewis Power QC and Michael Polak appeared at Kingston Crown Court for a four-week retrial for the alleged mastermind of a £20 million tobacco duty fraud. Their defendant, the first on the indictment, was the only one out of 8 who was not convicted of the fraud at the original trial in the summer of 2019.

During the retrial, the jury heard evidence about the importation of 75 tonnes of raw tobacco into the United Kingdom, which the prosecution stated was then transferred to buffer companies who turned it into hand rolling tobacco without paying the duty that was due at that point. Power and Polak’s defence included detailed documentary evidence in regard to the provenance and use of large amounts of money that was transferred between several entities in the United Kingdom and abroad along with the cross-examination of tax fraud experts. After just over a day’s deliberation, which was short given the complexities of the case, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict resulting Power and Polak’s defendant being the only 1 out of 8 defendants to escape conviction.

Lewis and Michael worked alongside top criminal solicitor Dr Tahir Wasti and were instructed by Lloyds PR Solicitors.

Lewis Power QC and Michael Polak can be instructed in complex criminal, regulatory, and international law matters.

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