Trial collapses following failings in internal investigation

In R v B, a theft and money laundering trial involving an allegation against an employee of a major British bank, the prosecution have offered no evidence following legal argument and a disclosure review.

B, a woman of good character who had worked for the bank for nearly 20 years, was accused of theft of £100k and laundering the proceeds. The prosecution case was based solely on an internal investigation conducted by the bank. Following legal argument in relation to the limitations of that investigation and the failure of the police to take possession of the entirety of the bank’s material, the bank produced further material during the course of the trial. Following review of that material, the prosecution accepted that there were documents which undermined the audit trail in relation to the original losses, which the bank was unable to explain. The prosecution further accepted that the investigation itself had been flawed.

In R v B, Kate O’Raghallaigh was instructed by Bo Berrange of EBR Attridge.