Wednesday 24 September 2014
A fraudster who laundered more than £210,000 during a 16 month crime spree has been deported .
Latvian national Martins Apskalns was successfully returned to Riga via the UK on Monday 8th September.
A risk assessment of Apskalns was carried out and determined that commercial flights could be used for the journey. The deportation was overseen by Guernsey Border Agency officers and went without incident.
A Guernsey Border Agency spokesman said:
"This deportation again shows that foreign nationals who commit serious or persistent crime in Guernsey will not be tolerated,"
"These were very serious crimes that showed a high degree of planning and criminal enterprise. We are grateful for the assistance of the UK Border Agency in helping to ensure the smooth transfer of Apskalns to Latvia."
Apskalns appeared before the Royal Court for sentencing in March 2013. He was sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and four years concurrent for 14 counts of fraud by making a false representation.
As part of the sentence, the Royal Court recommended that the fraudster be deported upon his release from Les Nicolles. Immigration prepared the case, which the Lt-Governor considered and subsequently made a deportation order.
Apskalns was a primary suspect of a money laundering investigation that centred on a Latvian syndicate involved with criminal activity both in Guernsey and elsewhere.
That criminality included the fraudulent use of compromised credit cards, cards from which data had been stolen and used to purchase numerous airline flights and mobile phone 'top up' for third parties.
He then subsequently laundered the resultant proceeds of crime via the use of Guernsey based bank accounts. Between 1st November 2010 and 28th February 2012, Apskalns was responsible for laundering a total of £210,460.00 - all alleged as being the proceeds of his criminal conduct.
At sentencing the presiding Judge said the court was aware that this was the first case of its nature in Guernsey and that such activity would not be tolerated.
Contact Information
Law Enforcement are always grateful for any assistance given by members of the public in identifying people involved with smuggling, supplying controlled drugs and any other crime in the Bailiwick. Information can be given by contacting the Confidential Drugline via 01481 741417 or through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
