A businessman and
his former employee pleaded guilty yesterday at Southwark Crown
Court, to the unlawful sale of ex-military vehicles to Sudan,
following a successful prosecution by Revenue and Customs
Prosecutions Office (RCPO).
Andrew Jackson, the owner of Jackson & Co Ltd, a company
in Doncaster, and Steven Smithey were charged with illegally
exporting fifteen Hagglund BV206 personnel carriers. These
vehicles are manufactured in Sweden for military and civilian use
and each one can, with its trailer, carry up to seventeen people.
They are purposefully designed with a low weight displacement,
making them ideal for driving where there are no hard roads or
over uneven surfaces such as snow or sand, which makes them
perfect for military use.
In March 2004 the UK Government introduced the Trade in
Controlled Goods (Embargoed Destinations Order) 2004. The purpose
of this order was in part to restrict the supply of equipment with
military capabilities to designated areas of conflict. A special
licence is required to export these vehicles to certain
destinations such as war-torn countries, like Sudan, Zimbabwe and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
More than 2 years worth of work by prosecutors and investigators,
including foreign enquiries to Norway, the destination, to which
the goods were diverted, resulted in compelling evidence being
obtained that a contract between Jackson & Co Ltd and
Sudan had been fulfilled.
L. Jackson & Co was found to be a long standing company,
which prided itself on involvement in the supply of used,
refurbished and new ex-Ministry of Defence and NATO vehicles and machinery.
Julie Snell, prosecuting lawyer for RCPO said:
"This result represents 2 years of dedicated teamwork
between lawyers and investigators working together to prevent
illegal arms trafficking. The RCPO prosecution team presented over
700 pages of evidence in support of their case, including
electronic material and foreign evidence from Norway".
Both men are due to be sentenced on 30 October 2009 at Southwark
Crown Court.
Notes for editors
1. The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created
by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. An
independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the
Attorney General and is responsible for prosecuting cases for HM
Revenue & Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
It prosecutes some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK.
2. Andrew Jackson, of Westwoodside, Doncaster, dob: 15/2/63,
Steven Smithy of Haxey, Doncaster, dob: 07/08/81
3. In March 2004 the UK Government introduced the Trade in
Controlled Goods (Embargoed Destinations Order) 2004. This is a
Statutory Instrument, made pursuant to by the Export Control Act
2002.
4. The Hagglund BV 206 is a controlled vehicle under Schedule 1
of the Export of Goods, Transfer of Technology and Provision of
Technical Assistance (Control) Order 2003 by reason of it being
designed or modified for military use.
5. Media enquiries to the RCPO Press Office on 020 7147 7748 or
out of hours on 07894 599 178.
6. For more information about RCPO, please visit our website at
www.rcpo.gov.uk.
PN09/010
Contacts:
Jasbinder Garcha
Phone: 020 7147 7748
jasbinder.garcha@rcpo.gsi.gov.uk