WIREDGOV

A criminal enterprise has today been sentenced to almost 19 years for their part in an international multi million pound carbon credit fraud. The men were part of a group involved in stealing half a million carbon credits from the Czech Republic’s ‘Registry’. At the time of the cyber attack in January 2011, the credits would have sold for £7m Euros.

The criminal enterprise set up two separate businesses in Poland as a front for their criminality. Ruman Patel set up Segel Sp Zoo and Huntingdon Sp Zoo was established by Hanif Patel, his cousin Ayyub Ibrahim and Mohammed Hanif Patel.

The criminal group then planned to hack into the Czech Republic registry. Once into the registry, this would provide them with the administrative rights to transfer the carbon credits - they could then be moved on to a legitimate dealer before the loss was even recognised. The attack was also helped by the making a hoax bomb call which caused the offices to be evacuated on the day of the attack. 

Following the theft the European Commission suspended trading on all 30 national Registries.

Intelligence shared by officers from the National Crime Agency and the Czech Police showed the companies were set up for the sole purpose of transferring the stolen credits. The joint investigation was conducted across a number of jurisdictions - requiring international cooperation from China, Hong Kong, India and Dubai. No credits/funds have yet been recovered. When all four men were arrested, officers from the Czech Republic came to the UK to assist with the searches.

Ruman Patel pleaded guilty in January 2014, Ayyub Ibrahim and Mohammed Patel pleaded guilty in June and Hanif Patel was found guilty following his 3 week trial in June/July 2014. 

NCA Branch Commander Ian Betts said: “This criminal investigation concerned a ‘virtual’ commodity which can be traded electronically, in large numbers and at great speed across international borders. Let me be clear this is not a victimless crime - it hits the pockets of every taxpayer in the UK. Officers in the National Crime Agency will work with their partners both here and internationally to ensure criminals realise international borders will not protect their illegal activity from law enforcement and they will be brought before the courts.”

Defendants

- Ruman Patel dob 15/09/1982 Brook St. Preston, Lancs. arrested June 2012 charged with encouraging /assisting in the commission of an indictable offence namely handling stolen goods, fraud and/or money laundering. Contrary to Serious Crime Act 2007 sentenced to 32 months

- Hanif Patel, dob 30/12/1960 Fullwood Hall Lane, Preston, Lancs. arrested April 2014 charged with encouraging /assisting in the commission of an indictable offence namely handling stolen goods, fraud and/or money laundering. Contrary to Serious Crime Act 20. sentenced to seven years

- Ayyub Ibrahim dob 20/12/1953 Lees hall Rd. Dewsbury, Yorks. arrested June 2012 charged with encouraging /assisting in the commission of an indictable offence namely handling stolen goods, fraud and/or money laundering. Contrary to Serious Crime Act 20. sentenced to 42 months

- Mohammed Hanif Patel dob 05/12/1961 St Thomas Rd., Preston, Lancs. arrested June 2012 charged with encouraging /assisting in the commission of an indictable offence namely handling stolen goods, fraud and/or money laundering. Contrary to Serious Crime Act 20. sentenced to 42 months