Let’s get this right: Wonga could be investigated for a string of criminal offences, from fraud to falsely impersonating a solicitor and even blackmail. It is a crime under the Fraud Act to knowingly make a false and misleading representation. The Solicitors Act of 1974 makes it an offence for someone to falsely claim to be a solicitor. A threat to take people to court could be regarded as ‘an unwarranted demand with menaces’, so Wonga could also be charged with blackmail under section 21 of the Theft Act 1968. So why has nothing happened? Could it be because it’s getting pretty hard to work out who’s currently running the show? After Wonga founder Errol Damelin bowed out, Niall Wass took over… but quickly made an unexplained exit… then it was the turn of Jonathan Hurwitz; but what of the role taken by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft? Calculations from the latest company records show Damelin, 42, has “a significant interest” in nearly 17 million shares in Wonga’s parent company Wonga Group, with an estimated market value of £33.6m. Hurwitz, also 42, has “a significant interest” in 12.6 million shares, worth around £25.1m. Adrian Beecroft is perhaps the most interesting person linked to Wonga’s fortunes though: Beecroft is chairman of Dawn Capital, which has a large stock in Wonga Group and he’s a major donor to the Tory party, having handed them more than half a million pounds since David Cameron became leader. Not that I’m suggesting that such facts could have anything to do with the lack of interest in pursuing this case… Of course not! [Sources: BBC Radio 4, Private Eye, the Daily Mirror] mirror.co.uk/night-copy/wonga-the-men-who-made-50million-830110#ixzz36Rmc3wzf
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 22:53:14 +0000
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