Published Date: 09 December 2010

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Accused-of-25000-money-laundering.6654832.jp

THREE men have appeared in court accused of a £250,000 money laundering scam.

Hartlepool men Jawad Zamzam, 34, and Choitam Channa, 49, and Mohammed Abdul Kadir, 40, of Blackhall, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court where they are charged with concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing a total of £254,00ADVERTISEMENT0 by means of

placing cash or cheques fraudulently into various bank accounts.

Zamzam, of Sandringham Road, Hartlepool, is accused

of placing £97,000 into accounts, Channa, of Everett Street, also Hartlepool, is said to have transferred £77,000 and Kadir, of Middle Street, Blackhall, is charged in connection with transferring £80,000.

The court heard that the charges relate to the men allegedly fraudulently opening bank accounts, falsely applying for credit cards and accruing large amounts of debt.

Zamzam's charge relates to a period between August 27, 2008, and July 11, 2009, Channa's is from between April 24, 2008 and April 14, 2010, and Kadir's relates to a period from April 11 to April 13 this year.

All men have yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction on the case and the men were ordered to return to the court on February 2, next year, when the case will be formerly committed to Durham Crown Court.

The men were granted unconditional bail.