Suspected 'ghost brokers' sent to Old Bailey

Seven suspected ghost brokers have been sent to the Old Bailey following a 10-month investigation by the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).

The men worked for Aston Midshires Insurance, Car Insurance Warehouse, First Car Direct Insurance and Astuto Insurance.

Daniel Buckharee, 42, from south London, is accused of two counts of committing fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and three counts of conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property.

Giovanni Recchia, 46, from Nottingham, is accused of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Gary Lee Heaven, 47, from south London, Abdullah Alli, 46, from south London, Mohammed Saleh, 24, from west London, Kevin Lewis, 35, from Aylesbury, and Andrew Goward, 37, from Newark, are all accused of one count each of conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property.

The City of London Magistrates Court on Friday committed Buckharee to the Old Bailey on 20 December for plea and case management, and magistrates today committed the other six men to the same hearing.

All men have unconditional bail.