Lord Pearson's Ex-CEO Jailed For £1.2M Bribes Scandal

The former chief executive of a specialist reinsurance company - founded by ex-UKIP leader Lord Pearson - was jailed for twenty-one months today for sanctioning £1,267,438 in bribes to Costa Rican government officials to guarantee multi-million pound contracts.

Ex-CEO of City-based PWS International Ltd Julian Jeffery Messent,50, of Chiltern Hills Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, padded his fat salary with an additional £428,000-plus in bonuses the kickbacks secured.

The father-of-five claims the covert payments - made to accounts in Panama, the U.S and a Florida travel agency as well as the officials' wives AMEX cards - were common knowledge at PWS International Ltd, a claim Lord Pearson denies.

The company, founded by Lord Pearson in 1964 reportedly provided $4 billion U.S. worth of coverage for Costa Rica's state-owned hydro-electric power plants, which owns property worth $36 billion U.S.

Messent (pictured) pleaded guilty to corruptly giving $25,843.22 to Roxana Bogentes, wife of Alvaro Acuna, an agent of Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) on or about February 9, 1999 to assist PWS International Ltd.

He similarly pleaded guilty to corruptly giving $250,000 to Reska Financial Inc. a company associated with an agent of INS, Cristobal Zawadski, on or about June 7, 2002.

Messent also asked for thirty-nine similar offences to be taken into consideration involving bribes from $500 upwards paid between February, 1999 and June, 2002 to ensure PWS kept the U-500 contract.

"I have no doubt others were involved in the process," the Recorder of Westminster Geoffrey Rivlin QC told Messent at Southwark Crown Court. "You did not initiate the corrupt relationship between PWS and INS and ICE."

The first PWS bribe in March 1997 was disguised as a $100,000 'loan' and sanctioned by a Colombian-born female employee of the company, with Messent's kick-backs securing the next three contracts, which reinsured ICE (Costa Rica's state-owned hydro-electricity and telephone service).

He "orchestrated" those bribes announced Judge Rivlin who told Messent: "This is not to say you were the only person within PWS that knew what was going on. You did not seek to disguise what was going on from senior figures."

The Serious Fraud Office were told Messent was the "fall guy" by a PWS insider and the defendant insists he "inherited" the bribes - disguised as commissions - which were known to colleagues and the heads of the finance and compliance departments.

He was appointed chief executive in August 2003, but stood down in September 2006 after INS uncovered the scandal when investigating a rogue $51,000 payment.

In September 2003 the company's annual income was £25 million. It is now part of the THB group.

"One of the major factors for the liquidation of the company was this investigation," prosecutor Mr. Hodge Malek told the court.

The SFO did not pursue a prosecution against PWS because if successful the only punishment would be a fine, diminishing the company's already depleted pension fund.

"The directing will and mind of the company was Mr. Messent," added the QC.

"Corruption such as this is very very difficult to investigate. You are looking at a very sophisticated operation with overseas bank accounts."

Messent's QC David Perry said: "The loss of his reputation means it is highly unlikely he will ever be reemployed in the insurance industry. The only industry he has known since graduating from university."

Judge Rivlin added: "This contract was systematically abused by officials at INS and ICE.

He told Messent: "Your part was so fundamental that it is not right to describe you as a fall guy...........The state of Costa Rica funded the corruption of its own officials by a foreigner.

"Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate," added the Judge who also ordered Messent to pay £100,000 compensation to Costa Rica or serve an additional twelve months and disqualified him from being a company director for five years.

Before his appointment Mr. Messent was a senior director with the company for nine years.

PWS at it's peak employed 250 people in 20 worldwide offices including Miami, Shanghai and Jakarta and had clients in over 100 countries.

Former Costa Rican President Angel Rodriguez and six other officials were charged with corruption in November, last year.

St.Valentine's Day Murder: £20,000 Reward

A £20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the St.Valentine’s Day killer of a local man stabbed to death near Crystal Palace Football Club.

Mark Corcoran, 26, (pictured) stumbled into Subitha Food and Wine shop, Whitehorse Lane, Selhurst at 8.20pm on February 14 asking for help moments before he collapsed.

An ambulance was called, but tragically Mark, who had been stabbed in the chest, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers would still like to speak to anyone who may have seen or spoken with Mark on Valentine's Day.

They would also like to hear from anyone who was in the area of the Crystal Palace football ground - there had just been an FA Cup football match (CrystalPalace vs Aston Villa).

An incident room was opened at Lewisham under Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

DCI Lyons said: “We still do not know why Mark was stabbed that night.

“He was wearing a distinctive black and white stripey top that night and would have struggled to walk the 100 yards to the shop.

“Lots of people were around that evening, either out celebrating Valentine's day or at the football match, we would like to hear from these people no matter how insignificant their information may seem, if may assist us with finding out what happened to Mark.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4961.

If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Race Rant Lands Angry Commuter Behind Bars

A tube train passenger, who launched into a frenzied race rant after staff told him to top-up his Oyster card before he could travel at busy London Bridge Underground Station, has been jailed for twelve months.

Jobless Daniel Lazar, 28, threatened to stab underground employees while delivering a tirade of abuse and jumped the barriers in a bid to get to the platform without paying.

He pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to racially aggravated threatening behaviour on May 15.

Prosecutor Miss Jag Shah told the court it was a busy lunchtime when Camden man Lazar complained to staff after the station's security barriers failed to open for him.

They told him to top-up his Oyster card with more cash at the ticket office - prompting the violent reaction.

"I will fucking shank you. Fuck your mother," Lazar screamed at one member of staff. "Go back to the Congo where you come from you black cunt."

The target of the defendant's anger tried to shelter in the station office, but Lazar barged his way in, knocking the man into his colleagues.

A female member of staff was also confronted by Lazar, who shouted: "I'm going to fuck your eyes out."

Judge Henry Blacksell QC announced: "He is an upfront man when he has lost his temper, straight in the face of whoever upsets him.

"They were entitled to work without him behaving in this sustained aggressive way," added the Judge, asking Lazar: "Who do you think you are?"

Rogue Trader Gives Drug-Dealers A Bad Name

A rogue cocaine dealer, who sold crushed paracetamol to nightclubbers looking to get high at a landmark gay venue, was caught after undercover police posed as would-be mug punters.

Irishman John Doyle, 29, loitered outside Fire night-club, Parry Street, Vauxhall (pictured) and agreed to sell drugs to the officers, who arrested him on the spot.

A year earlier he was convicted of a similar offence when selling white powder wrapped in tissue, which he tried to pass off as cocaine in gay heartland Brewer Street, Soho.

Doyle pleaded guilty to offering to supply class A drugs and possessing articles for fraud on April 23 and was placed on a 12-month supervision order with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

Southwark Crown Court heard the unsuspecting defendant asked the officers: "Do you want cocaine or ketamine?"

Doyle directed the police down a nearby alleyway and as he pulled a wrap from his trousers was arrested.

He confessed choosing the spot because he could easily hear people approaching and was raising cash to fund his own drug addiction.

Hip Hip Hooray Bogus Asylum Seeker Can Stay!

A bogus asylum-seeker, who fled Egypt after getting a girl pregnant, can now remain in the U.K. despite lying to the immigration authorities because he married a Lithuanian.

Egyptian-born cafe owner Mohammed Zahran, 32, of Avondale Road, Mexsborough, South Yorkshire posed as an Iraqi refugee and despite his asylum application being refused was given exceptional leave to stay in the U.K. for four years.

His true identity was only revealed via fingerprints when he applied for permanent residency based on his marriage to an EU citizen.

Zahran pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to obtaining leave to remain in the U.K. by deception, namely providing false details on July 10, 2002 and dishonestly obtaining a travel document on September 11, 2002.

"A lot of water has passed under the bridge since these offences," the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Zahran.

"You have got married, a legal marriage, and have joint responsibility for a nine-year old child, you have employment and the right to reside in the U.K. under European law."

The court heard Zahran successfully posed as a 17 year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker to obtain leave to remain after receiving advice from an immigration agent.

He got married in 2004 and applied for residency four years later.

"He fled Egypt because he had great concerns about his life," said Mr. David Jones, defending. "He is a hard-working, reliable member of society entitled to stay in this country."

Judge McKinnon refused to make a recommendation for deportation and sentenced Zahran to a twelve-month community order, with 100 hours community service work.

The maximum sentence is two years' imprisonment.

Gangbanger Banged Up....Again

A young gangster – caged for his role in a notorious drugs shooting on a Sheffield estate – is back behind bars after he was caught with £300 worth of skunk cannabis.

Labourer Ryan Lewis, 23, of Seabrook Court, Park Hill, was jailed for nine years at the city’s crown court after his gang shot 29 year-old drug dealer Lennox Ellis on the Park Hill estate.

He was released from prison on licence, but seven months later was caught by plain-clothes police outside Beckenham Railway Station,(pictured) Bromley, South-East London.

Lewis pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to possessing a total of 54.4 gms of cannabis, with intent to supply, on May 17.

The court heard three officers were staking out the station after a series of bike thefts when they stopped and search suspicious-looking Lewis.

Inside his puffa jacket was a black plastic bag containing 25.4 gms of cannabis divided into twenty-five individual wraps.

Police also searched an address in Chichester Mews, West Norwood, South London, where Lewis was staying with relatives and seized another 29 gms of cannabis stuffed inside another black plastic bag.

The defendant – sentenced in 2004 for wounding, with intent, after Ellis was shot in the back of the leg – was immediately recalled to prison and now has a release date of December 2012.

He was part of a gang trying to overthrow the estate’s main drug dealer and control the crack cocaine trade.

Lewis has a conviction for drug dealing and was also convicted of attacking a fellow-prisoner.

He claims prison has been hell and now suffers anxiety attacks after being stabbed in the back and arm by an inmate.

Lewis was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment to run concurrently with his nine-year sentence.

Chronic Cocaine Addict Nicked By Cops

A cocaine addict caught with the drug plus £1850 cash when stopped and searched by police in Bromley town centre has been given a chance to kick his habit.

Air-conditioning supervisor Johnathan Gorman, 28, of Croydon Road, Beckenham pleaded guilty to possessing 3.36 gms of cocaine on December 18, last year.

Croydon Crown Court (pictured) heard police became suspicious of the defendant and when his pouch was searched a small amount of cocaine was found along with the cash.

Officers searched his address and found further small amounts of cocaine stashed in various places.

“He is a chronic drug-user. He could have been picked-up at any time and tested positive,” announced Judge Nicholas Ainley.

Gorman was sentenced to a twelve-month supervision order, including a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Light-Fingered Lag Lifts Limo

A jailbird who stole a Good Samaritan’s £106,000 luxury Mercedes limousine after getting high on the victim’s powerful prescription tablets was jailed for nine months yesterday.

Scotsman Stan Buccanan, 32, of Dingwall Road, Croydon had just been released from a two-year burglary sentence when befriended by 57 year-old Chris Stable of Wandle Road, Waddon.

The victim’s house is opposite the probation office Buccanan had to report to and the homeless criminal was put up in exchange for helping out with odd-jobs.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to stealing the Mercedes and driving it without insurance on July 6 and was also disqualified from the roads for two years.

Buccanan had known the victim a week and Mr. Stable even helped him move into a new address the night before the vehicle was driven off the driveway.

The defendant was arrested after the London Ambulance Service was called to assist him and he admitted taking Mr. Stable’s powerful tranquilizer diazepam.

Potless Punter Pinched Iphone

A Redditch gambler, who blew all his cash at a London casino walked out of a landmark West End store with a £495 Apple iphone he snatched from the display, a court heard.

Insurance claims assessor Shahbaz Hussain, 21, of Archer Road pleaded guilty to stealing the phone from O2, Oxford Street on October 13.

Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told City of London Magistrates’ Court Hussain was followed outside and stopped by the shop’s store detective after being watched removing the phone from the display.

When quizzed at Charing Cross Police Station Hussain claimed he was innocently playing with the phone when it came loose.

He was in two minds as what to do and decided to try and walk out with the phone.

The court heard Hussain – who spent nearly twenty hours in custody – travelled down from the Worcestershire home he shares with his parents to visit his girlfriend in Southall, Middlesex.

He was sidetracked and lost all the money for the trip in a nearby casino before his arrest.

Hussain was fined £100, with £50 costs and was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Child Porn Pics Found During Police Raid

A businessman, who was arrested for downloading child pornography during a surprise police raid on his Chichester home, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Dry cleaner and launderette owner Seigfried Wensorra, 59, of Stockbridge Place, who also rents out a string of properties, had a total of sixty-one indecent images.

“These are very serious offences,” bench chairwoman Jan Carr told the defendant at City of London Magistrates’ Court (pictured).

“You have demonstrated a lack of understanding of the impact of abuse or empathy with the victims. You could have reported these images to police, but failed to do so.”

Wensorra pleaded guilty to three sample charges of making 19 indecent images of a child between August 1, 2009 and February 18 and was sentenced to five months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Officers from City of London Police, armed with a search warrant, seized a laptop, computer tower and computer disks from the south coast property.

Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told the court Wensorra came to police attention on an unrelated matter not proceeded with and his home was searched on February 17.

“The images ranged from nudity or erotic posing to sexual activity between children, solo masturbation and sexual penetrative activity between children and an adult.”

The prosecutor applied for a sexual offences prohibition order explaining: “To protect the problem from serious sexual harm as this activity fuels the market for child pornography.”

When shown the images at the police station and quizzed about possessing them first-time offender Wensorra replied: “no comment.”

Wensorra, who until two years ago was a registered landlord with Chichester College, claims his interest in art, photography and anatomy led him to the images.

He insists he obtained no sexual gratification from the pictures, which were linked to a legal well established website he visited.

The recovering alcoholic, who is also receiving psychiatric treatment, has run the dry cleaning and launderette business for twenty-five years and let properties for the last two decades.

He has previously passed checks carried out by Chichester College and the local council to be an approved landlord.

Wensorra was also ordered to perform 250 hours community service and will be under the supervision of the probation service for two years.

His computers and discs will also be forfeit.

The magistrates made a sexual offences prohibition order, banning Wensorra from using a computer with the ability to show images or download from the Internet or take any photograph of females, including girls under sixteen years-old.

Boozy Birthday Bash Brings Ban

A two-time drink-driver, caught early one morning behind the wheel while twice the limit following a boozy birthday celebration the night before, has been banned from the roads for three years.

Frank Kiyimba, 41, of Peabody Square, Southwark, pleaded guilty to driving his Audi A6 in Bishopsgate on October 3 with 80 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

City of London Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard it was 6.15am on a Sunday morning when suspicious police stopped Kiyimba due to the manner of his driving.

"I am very sorry I was drunk on the day," he told the court.

Kiyimba, who was banned for a year in 2004 for drink-driving, added: "I was coming from a birthday party and desperately need the use of a car."

He was fined £350, with £90 costs and disqualified from driving for three years.

Algerian ATM 'Genius' Caged

A cash-point fraudster whose gang looted over half a million pounds from ATM's up and down the country - funding a luxury lifestyle of foreign trips and flash cars - was jailed for two years on Monday.

Algerian asylum-seeker Mehrez Berkane, 32, of Dunstan Lane, Edge Hill, Liverpool perfected a technique whereby cash was withdrawn without his string of bogus accounts being debited.

"What you were involved in was a new and sophisticated method of cheating banks out of money," Southwark Crown Court Judge Martin Beddoe told Berkane. "The fraud you were involved in was in excess of half a million pounds."

The defendant was successfully hunted down by the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, which placed hidden cameras at key ATM's targeted by the gang and obtained his identity in a stop and search.

Berkane - an expert in Transaction Reversal Fraud - carried out at least 280 such thefts on thirty-two nights, netting £119,450 with illegally obtained pre-paid credit cards, which were then immediately destroyed.

Berkane pleaded guilty to stealing £112,570 from HSBC Bank between February 10 and November 20, 2008.

He also pleaded guilty to sixteen sample counts of stealing sums between £200 and £600 from HSBC branches in Liverpool; Stanmore, Midlesex; Golders Green, North London; Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire; Church End, Finchley, North London; Bushey and Oxey, Middlesex and from an RBS in Allerton, Liverpool.

Berkane further admitted falsely representing he was Eddy Benjami on February 11, 2008 and Adam Sami on February 20, 2008, when he used forged Belgian passports to obtain the pre-paid credit cards.

Prosecutor Mr. Martin Dunham told the court: "Those skilled in Transaction Reversal Fraud, a select few, have ways of removing cash from the machine without their account being debited by manipulation of the cash disposal slot."

An investigation was launched after the HSBC lost £557,540 between January 2007 and September 2009.

"Berkane was regularly seen using the cash-points when the cameras recorded a Transaction Reversal Fraud," explained Mr. Dunham.

The defendant - whose brother Lyes is on the run from police - obtained pre-paid credit cards at the CoOp and Money Shop in Old Swan, Liverpool and used cards fraudulently obtained by others.

Once identified as wanted Berkane was arrested in Bury Street, Liverpool on January 20, last year after police stopped his black Audi A5 and he was quizzed at St. Anne's Street Police Station, denying the frauds.

"There are no assets and the money has been spent," added Mr. Dunham.

First-time offender Berkane, the son of a Mayor, has been served with deportation papers, but will contest removal based on his marriage to his French wife - an EU citizen.

"This fraud involved the use of forged passports and other forged material to secure the pre-paid credit cards used and misused at the ATM's attacked with these cards," Judge Beddoe told Berkane.

"Some of the proceeds was used to indulge yourself in expensive foreign travel and to maintain a lifestyle to which you were not entitled."

Maxine Sharples, 23, of Local Centre, Palacefields, Runcorn, Cheshire, who had been living with her mother at Livermore Court, Liverpool 8 as a bail condition pleaded not guilty to entering into a money laundering arrangement between September 30, 2007 and October 30, 2008 in that she received £21,200 into her Nationwide Building Society account and paid £20,480 of it to Berkane.

She also denied transferring criminal property, namely £3,984, between December 4, 2008 and January 28, last year and her pleas were accepted by the prosecution and not guilty verdicts entered.

ATM Thief Who Preys On You And Me Dodges Prison

A cash-point fraudster, who filmed victims’ PIN numbers then snatched their cards after rigging the machines, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Jobless HGV driver Klodian Gjetjol, 28, of Huron Road, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire used his mobile phone technology to film people typing in their secret four-digit number.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to possessing a pinhole camera bar and an ATM trapping device at Barclays Bank, Gloucester Road, Kensington, (pictured) on October 5.

He also admitted stealing an AMRO bank card at the same location and stealing a Nationwide debit card at Barclays, Heath Hurst Road, Hampstead on the same day.

Prosecutor Miss Alexa Morgan told the court: “Once the victims’ card is inside the machine the ATM trapping device keeps the card and when the victim leaves to report it the criminal retrieves the card and withdraws funds.”

Police were observing Gjetjol – who tried to conceal his identity under a black cap – loiter near the Gloucester Road cash-point, returning to the ATM on several occasions.

“The victim’s card was trapped and the defendant was seen removing the camera bar, which he had fixed above the machine,” explained Miss Morgan.

“When police tried to apprehend Gjetjol there was a short struggle and he escaped, but was caught in nearby Cromwell Gardens and when searched the Nationwide card was found.”

The defendant had dropped the trapping device near the cash-point.

He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Nightclub Snub Sparks Revenge Gun Attack

Doormen and punters at a trendy Central London nightspot dived for cover after an angry customer - refused entry by staff – returned and fired five shots from the back of a motorbike.

Abdi Samanter, 29, (pic.top) will be locked-up for an 11-year minimum after shooting up Sosho, Tabernacle Street, Hoxton (pic.bottom).

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of attempting to murder two doorman; possessing a firearm, with intent to endanger life; possessing a prohibited weapon and ammunition and possessing a firearm while prohibited on December 14, last year.

Detective Inspector Michael Millar of Operation Trident – which investigates violent black-on-black crime - said: “Samanter carried out the shooting in order to teach the two doormen a lesson because they had refused him entry to the club.

“He used a revolver to shoot five times at door staff and members of the public at close range - it was miracle no one was hit.

“Today's conviction could not have been achieved without the courage and bravery shown by two doormen and a passing taxi driver who chased and caught Samanter even though he levelled his firearm and shot at them.

“I would like to thank the men for their actions and for giving evidence at court.

“It is thanks to them, and the determination and tenacity of officers from the Trident north shootings team, that a dangerous individual is now off our streets and behind bars.”

A group of men - including Samanter – were refused entry to the club at 2.40am, sparking a disturbance in which barriers were kicked over and bottles thrown.

At 5.00am Samanter returned to the club on the back of a motorbike and fired shots into a group outside.

Fortunately no one was injured.

The doormen gave chase and then pursued Samanter on foot after he fell off the motorbike and he was detained with the help of a taxi driver in nearby Dysart Street.

DJ 'Smokin' Joe Stomped Out

A nightclub reveller - high on a cocktail of booze and cocaine – has been jailed after leaving a popular Australian DJ with a fractured jaw and eye socket after delivering a “violent and gratuitous kick.”

University dropout Yusif Hassan, 31, of Radcliffe Way, Northolt, Middlesex was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for maliciously wounding 26 year-old ‘Smokin’ Joe Mekhael, inflicting grievous bodily harm, in Smithfield meat market on June 13, last year.

Southwark Crown Court was told the pair began brawling at 5.30am and CCTV showed Hassan returning to deliver a final kick to the face of defenceless Mr. Mekhael (pictured) as he lay on the ground.

Father-of-four Hassan, who has just completed a twenty-six month robbery sentence, claimed self-defence and told police the victim called him an “Abbo” as they left the club.

New South Wales native Mr. Mekhael, who also suffered two cuts to his lip and swelling to his cheek, refused to sign a police statement and returned home a few weeks later.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Dunham told the court the fight was witnessed by market worker John Barnes.

“He saw Hassan aim two kicks at the smaller man. He saw Mr. Mekhael in the foetal position with his head exposed and Hassan returned and kicked him in the head. He was sickened by the fact there was nothing the victim could do.”

CCTV captures Hassan making a “who’s next” gesture to onlookers.

He was arrested after a cabbie followed him and was found with bloodstained shoes.

When quizzed Hassan claimed: “I was jumped by four guys from the BNP. It was self-defence.”

Mr. Jeremy Lynn, defending, told the court: “He was insulted by Mr. Mekhael and then ended up having a fight.

“He is disgusted by his own behaviour. He had been drinking and also tested positive for cocaine.”

The lawyer described Mr. Mekhael as a: “Ferocious-looking individual. Muscle-bound and fit.”

After quitting a bio-chemistry degree course Hassan has racked up fourteen offences, including criminal damage, robbery and possession of drugs.

“He has spent the last eight years drinking and taking drugs and not looking after his family,” explained Mr. Lynn.

Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told burly shaven-headed Hassan: “You had been out drinking and taking drugs. It was clearly a pretty vicious fight and ended with you leaving him on the ground.

“You walked away, but you then changed your mind, returned and delivered a vicious and gratuitous kick to the face of that man as he lay defenceless on the ground.”