Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025

London couple in £14 million ‘dirty money’ case win temporary right to secrecy

London couple in £14 million ‘dirty money’ case win temporary right to secrecy

The names of a London couple accused of bringing £14 million of illicit money into Britain via the “Azerbaijan laundromat” will be kept secret for at least another week after a High Court judge give them a final chance to justify continuing anonymity.
In a High Court order, Mr Justice Freedman rejected a last-ditch bid by the couple to obtain a judicial review to overturn a decision by another judge last week that the veil of secrecy protecting the couple should finally be lifted.

He said that, despite this, legal precedent meant that the couple’s lawyers should be given the chance to present their case again at an oral hearing.

He added that anonymity should be maintained until then and that the earliest date for the hearing to take place would be at least seven days away.

The judge’s ruling will raise new concerns about the way in which judicial review proceedings – which are already subject to a planned government overhaul – and other court processes can be misused to inject unwarranted delay.

It follows a decision last week at Westminster Magistrates court by District Judge Vanessa Baraitser to approve an application by the Evening Standard, supported by the National Crime Agency, for the couple to be named.

She said the couple had failed to provide any evidence to justify anonymity and that keeping their identities secret for longer would be a “disproportionate interference with the principle of open justice”.

She granted a seven day “stay” – the legal term for a delay – to allow the couple to carry out their threat to seek a judicial review. That should have expired today.

But in a High Court order issued on Wednesday, Mr Justice Freedman said that although he was rejecting all of the couple’s arguments for a judicial review, they were entitled to make their case again at an oral hearing and that anonymity should remain until then.

“It is recognised that where a party applies in the Administrative Court for urgent interim relief, which is refused on the papers, it has the right to renew his application orally to a High Court judge,” he states in his order.

“Until after the oral hearing .. the decision of District Judge Baraitser removing anonymity .. is stayed.”

The couple are accused by the National Crime Agency of using a complex web of “brass plate” companies fronted by “men of straw” to channel nearly £14 million of allegedly illicit wealth into Britain and face the seizure of around £6.5 million in their London bank accounts at forfeiture proceedings next month.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
×