Jonathan Lennon KC | Another Successful AFO Challenge

In late April 2025 Jonathan was instructed by Lin Hou of Zhong Lun in Cheshire Police v C.  Using POCA Pt 5 powers Cheshire Police secured Account Freezing Orders against 7 bank accounts held by a Chinese student who was studying at the time in the UK.  This comprised of over £230,000.  C had also purchased an expensive flat in central Manchester.  C was accused of running an un-registered Money Service Bureau and money laundering. The police case relied in part on suggesting that the conveyancing solicitors and other professionals had breached their duties under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. 

C’s explanations involved securing witness statements from multiple witnesses in China and a legal argument was mounted involving the admissibility of hearsay evidence, dual criminality and the inappropriateness of making allegations against independent professionals in a public forum who had not been given a chance to comment.

Cheshire Police conceded and the accounts were released.