Colin Witcher acts in “landmark” and “unprecedented” embargo trial covered internationally
In a case covered extensively across the national and international press, the defendants stood trial for unlicensed arms brokering to embargoed destinations under the Export Control Order 2008.
The Jury returned mixed verdicts after a nine-week trial, which concerned the brokering of government-scale deals in respect to high level military equipment including surface-to-air missiles, fighter jets, Mi-24 combat helicopter gunships and battle tanks. The complex and sensitive case took seven years to investigate, and the indictment covered a six-year period and multiple proposed deals in the context of alleged wide spread corruption.
The case was termed a landmark prosecution and one of the most significant military arms and embargo cases to ever reach a UK court. Following trial, the defendant DG was sentenced on 23rd September 2026 to 16-years imprisonment.
Colin was led by James Hines KC of 3 Raymond Buildings and Counsel were instructed by Anna Ford of Shearman Bowen Solicitors.
The sentencing remarks of the Judge have been released by the Court, here, and the case was covered across the press, including in BBC News, Reuters, The Independent, LBC News and Metro.
