VIDEO footage put before the jury in a money-laundering trial involving a Bradford jewellers includes footage of large wads of cash arriving in toy gun boxes and takeaway bags, as well as a “careful courier”.
Eight individuals are accused of washing just over £266 million of criminal cash through Fowler Oldfield between 2014 and 2016.
All eight deny the charges.
The trial got officially underway last week, with open statements given by all teams.
Nicholas Clarke QC, for the prosecution, spent just over four days giving his remarks, while the eight defence teams started and completed their speeches last Friday.
The court heard how Fowler Oldfield went from modest takings from scrap gold to processing daily payments that were akin to coming “from a Premier League football stadium on a match day.”
The jury also saw several CCTV montages from the Fowler Oldfield premises, which was off Hall Lane, before it was raided by West Yorkshire Police as part of Operation Larkshot in 2016.
Mr Clarke presented the clips and gave the prosecution’s interpretation of what was happening.
He said dirty cash was brought to the jewellers in sports bags, suitcases, a "bag for life" and even in two present boxes containing toy guns, before it was then paid into the bank account of the company.
One of the montages amalgamates together clips from August 30, August 31, August 24 and August 26 in 2016, in nonchronological order.
It purportedly shows a man bringing in a heavy suitcase filled with cash (August 30), money being counted (August 31) and the “presents” and takeaway bags being delivered to the premises (August 24 and 26).
The first clip shows a man the prosecution say is called “Bassi”, who arrives at Fowler Oldfield from Glasgow, just before closing time.
It was put to the jury that Bassi transferred cash, hidden behind panels in the car, into a large suitcase to take into the premises.
The handle snaps off before Bassi hands it to Daniel Rawson and the cash secured overnight, according to the prosecution.
Rawson, 45, of Syke Green in Leeds, was appointed Co-Director of Fowler Oldfield on December 9, 2011 and is one of the defendants in the trial.
He is the man in the red and black hopped top, according to the prosecution.
The second clip, from August 31, 2016 – the morning after – shows Rawson in the red top and another man, Paul Miller, 45, of High Street in Wetherby, according to the prosecution.
Miller is another defendant in the trial.
The montage then moves to August 24, 2016.
This is where two white “presents” are seemingly delivered and the prosecution says Rawson is in the bottom left corner of the screen – in black – with a brand new, more sophisticated counting machine, which he purportedly was using in the previous clip (August 31).
The footage looks to show the packages being opened by staff members.
Mr Clarke said: "There is inside what appears to be a toy gun of some sort, all sealed up.”
But bundles of cash seemingly fall out of the two toy packages, which have been shrink-wrapped and amount to £123,800, according to the prosecution.
The final clip, from August 26, 2016 shows a man – who the prosecution say is Wajid Hussain – seemingly bringing in cash in a black bin liner and a bag for life.
Mr Clarke said: "That's Mr Rawson receiving that delivery, Daniel Rawson.
He added: "When they pull them out, you can see they're takeaway boxes - chicken, fish and chips, whatever."
Another montage shows an individual who the prosecution have dubbed the “careful courier” who brings in £200,000.
The prosecution say the unidentified courier exhibits behaviour “consistent with him being very careful not to leave behind evidence of his visit to Fowler Oldfield.
Mr Clarke advised the jury to watch how the man handles two bundles of cash. The prosecution say he uses his sleeves and fists to avoid direct contact.
The man also seemingly uses his cap to wipe down the bundles he brings out of the bag and then also looks to come out from the bathroom with a tissue which is supposedly used to open doors.
Mr Clarke said: "Remember what this case is about, the prosecution say this was not legitimate business.
"This was criminal behaviour.
"A criminal delivering the proceeds of crime and well aware of forensic traces that he might leave.
"Otherwise why else do what you saw him do.
"This was long before the pandemic and any need to wipe down touch points."
The other two montages show staff members seemingly counting huge bundles of cash that have been delivered.
One comes from the Merseyside area, delivered by a man named Daniel Mather, according to the prosecution.
The other shows a man named Raja Iqbal bringing cash to the premises twice in the same day (August 31, 2016), according to the prosecution.
The prosecution says both Rawson – supposedly in the red top – and Miller – supposedly in the white top – are seen at various points in these clips.
Large bundles of cash can be seen on the counters at the premises, with several people - including who the prosecution say is Miller - counting them.
Both Rawson and Miller deny the charges put against them and say the prosecution cannot prove any of the money was criminal property, according to Mr Clarke.
The trial continues.
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