CPS ‘has not been given money-laundering file yet’

LONDON: Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that the Scotland Yard unit investigating the money-laundering case into three people linked with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has not passed the “file” to the CPS.
A CPS spokesman told this correspondent that the investigation involving the MQM leader Altaf Hussain and two others, aged 72 and 45, remains an “ongoing” police investigation therefore there is no question for the CPS to form an opinion about the case while the police continue to gather evidence.
Some media reports have suggested that the CPS had advised the Scotland Yard to drop the money laundering case into the three people linked with the MQM but Scotland Yard has categorically denied any such development stressing that inquiries into the killing of Dr Imran Farooq as well as the associated money-laundering probe go on.
A spokesman told The News that three people remain on the police bail in relation to the money-laundering investigation and all of them are “due back to answer their bails in December 2014”.
“A 60 year old was arrested on 31st of July this year on suspicion of money-laundering. Two men were arrested on December 2013. All of them are on police bail. All of them are due back at a date in December where a decision will be made whether to drop the case, extend the bail or bring charges,” said the spokesman.
He added that the police wanted to speak to two men - Mohsin Ali Syed and Muhamamd Kashif Khan Kamran - who are believed to be in Pakistani custody.The spokesman said that Dr Imran Farooq’s murder investigation remained alive and the police was determined to find the killers. He said that a 30-year-old man arrested on 27 August from an east London address remained on bail. He returned to a London police station mid-November and has been bailed.
Dr. Akbar Malik of Malik Law Solicitors told The News that a case referred to the CPS may require further evidence to be obtained before a charge decision can be made. In such circumstances the Prosecutor will advise the officer of the further material required in order to obtain a charging decision.
“Prosecutors may provide guidance and advice in serious, sensitive or complex cases and any case where a police supervisor considers it would be of assistance in helping to determine the evidence that will be required to support a prosecution or to decide if a case can proceed to court. Where a case is referred to CPS at an early stage the prosecutor may determine the information to be provided by the police, the stage at which the evidence will be reviewed and the test to be applied, and this may be in accordance with specific protocols including those relating to cases dealt with by CPS Casework Divisions or Group Complex Casework Units.
Dr Malik said that in making charging decisions and providing early advice, prosecutors will assess the evidential material provided in accordance with the Guidance. “Prosecutors will be proactive in identifying and, where possible, rectifying evidential deficiencies and in bringing to an early conclusion those cases that cannot be strengthened by further investigation or where the public interest clearly does not require a prosecution. If essential, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) may become involved.”