Supreme Court of Gibraltar: Attorney General enters nolle prosequi in ‘NSCIS’ case

Since 2020, Ben Cooper QC has been representing the first and second defendants in the ‘NSCIS’ case before the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. His clients, Thomas Cornelio (a talented software developer) and John Perez MBE (the former commander of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment) were charged with conspiracy to defraud and multiple computer misuse offences alongside one of Gibraltar’s most senior civil servants. The case was predominantly a displaced commercial dispute, arising out of a 2018 decision by Ben’s clients to resign their employment and set up in competition with their former employer, Bland, a 200-year old company with deep links to Gibraltar society and politics. Following renewed representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney-General of Gibraltar, and the exchange of written arguments, the prosecution has now withdrawn the proceedings in their entirety by the entry of a nolle prosequi, five weeks before a week-long application to dismiss the charges was due to be heard by Gibraltar’s Chief Justice. 

Read more here.

Ben Cooper QC led Ellis Sareen, and was admitted to the Bar of Gibraltar for the purposes of these proceedings, in which he and Ellis were directly instructed. They continue to advise Thomas Cornelio and John Perez MBE.