English to Croatian Other Law (general) criminal law

Section 327 offence - Concealing criminal property etc.

Section 327 simplifies and replaces S.49 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 and S.93C of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. See (Archbold 2006 33-11)
The actus reus of the offence under S.327 is:
concealing criminal property;
disguising criminal property;
converting criminal property;
transferring criminal property;
removing criminal property from England and Wales.
It is an either way offence. A person convicted of an offence under this section is liable to imprisonment for 14 years or a fine or both.
Concealing or disguising criminal property is defined as concealing or disguising its nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership or any rights with respect to it [POCA section 327(3)].

X currently represent two defendant’s charged with ‘Converting Criminal Property’, contrary to section 327(1)(c) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
It is alleged that the victims were targeted by way of persons claiming that work needed to be undertaken on their properties and then being charged extortionate fees for work, which was improperly completed, or the work not being undertaken at all.
The Defendants are then alleged to have had the monies paid into their accounts which was then withdrawn.
The Defendant’s deny any level of dishonesty.