WIREDGOV

Eleven defendants have been committed to stand trial in Basildon Crown Court in March, as part of the biggest investigation ever carried out by the Environment Agency into the illegal export of electrical waste from the UK to developing countries.

Facing charges

Havering Magistrates Court heard 11 out of 15 defendants face charges of related to shipping prohibited waste under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and European Waste Shipment Regulations 2006.

The eleven committed are Joseph Benson & BJ Electronics Limited, Terence Dugbo, Nnamdi Ezechukwu and Reliance Export Limited, Godwin Ezeemo and Orient Export Limited, Prince Ibeh, Stuart McGuigan, Emmanuel Makete and Adrian Thompson. They will appear at Basildon Crown Court on 11th March.

Three further defendants have contested the evidence against them and will appear again at Havering Magistrates Court on 23rd February. The final defendant reserved their plea as they had instructed new solicitors.

The law is clear

Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Team Manager, Andy Higham, said: “By committing this case to the Crown Court the district judge took the same view as we do, that this is a serious and complex case that needs to be heard before a judge and jury.”

“The law is clear - it is a crime to export hazardous electrical waste from the UK to developing countries.

“Illegally exporting electrical waste also avoids the costs of legitimate recycling and undermines law-abiding recycling businesses in this country.”   The three defendants that will reappear in Havering Magistrates Court on 23rd February, are:

The one defendant that will reappear with new solicitors in Havering Magistrates Court on 23rd February, is:

1. Krassimir Vengelov, West Sussex