Published Date:20 November 2010

http://www.jarrowandhebburngazette.com/latest-news/Couple-jailed-for-500000-cash.6633453.jp

A HUSBAND and wife were jailed yesterday for running a money-laundering racket worth half a million pounds from their South Tyneside home.

Police found 16 bank accounts being used by Jean Serge Bakou and Eliane Bazebi Mpolo, plus £44,000 in cash under a bed at their house in Peddars Way, South Shields.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the couple, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, received more than £517,000 from fellow countrymen living in England between 2003 and 2009, which was supposed to be sent on to relatives in their homeland.

But the money was never sent, and instead was banked by the couple.

The court was told Mpolo used her brother in Congo – described as a wealthy man – to pay the recipients from his own pocket, although it was unclear how much cash, if any, they received.

The couple both pleaded guilty to charges of converting and concealing criminal property, for running the illegal operation. Peter Gair, prosecuting, told the court how the couple, who have four children, moved to England in 2002, though Mpolo only became a legal citizen in August 2005, at which point she became entitled to claim benefits.

Neither of them worked, but in early 2009 police discovered she had several bank accounts through which a large amount of money had passed.

On May 15, they searched the couple's house, and Mr Gair said: "Police found the couple were living a more lavish lifestyle than their benefits should allow, and found a number of designer watches made by Gucci, Armani, DKNY and others.

"When searching under the bed, officers found an envelope containing £44,130 in cash.

"It has proved impossible to find any paperwork relating to the monies going in and out of the accounts, or the cash in the house – which was all seized."

A police probe found that since 2003, more than £244,000 had been paid into accounts held by Bakou and more than £273,00 into accounts held by Mpolo.

Their actions breached the Money Laundering Regulations of 2007, which classified the cash as criminal property, because by having it, the couple benefited from illegal conduct – which in this case was by using it to fund a lavish lifestyle and run an illegal money-transferring service to the DR of Congo.

But Julian Smith, defending Bakou, and Gavin Doig, defending Mpolo, denied the pair lived extravagantly.

Recorder David Hatton QC told the pair – who needed a translator to understand: "Although the sources of the vast sums are unidentified, the fact is they unlawfully passed through your hands.

"You have pleaded guilty of knowing or suspecting that you or someone else would benefit by criminal conduct."

Bakou was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the first charge and a further six, to run concurrently, for the second.

Mpolo was sentenced to nine months for the first charge and two for the second, also to run concurrently.

Speaking after the case, Jeremy Oppenheim, UK Border Agency regional director, said: "Money laundering is a serious offence and is often linked to serious organised crime.

"This case demonstrates how the UK Border Agency will relentlessly pursue any person who seeks to abuse the hospitality of this country.