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Written Question
Bhanu Choudhrie and Sudhir Choudhrie
Thursday 31st January 2019

Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that SFO investigations into (a) Sudhir Choudhrie and (b) Bhanu Choudhrie are (i) compliant with legislation and (ii) receive all relevant information.

Answered by Robert Buckland

As highlighted in the answer given on 24 January to PQ 210434 the SFO can neither confirm nor deny if these individuals are subject to any investigation. The SFO carries out all of its work in compliance with legislation.

The SFO also works collaboratively with law enforcement and regulatory partners to combat serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption and share information, both in the UK and abroad. This includes membership of the newly launched multi-agency National Economic Crime Centre which was set up by the Government following the 2017 Economic Crime Review to ensure a more effective law enforcement response to economic crime.


Written Question
Money Laundering: Criminal Investigation
Monday 28th January 2019

Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to the Serious Fraud Office to undertake investigations into (a) Mukhtar Ablyazov and (b) other cases of large-scale international money laundering.

Answered by Robert Buckland

The SFO has sufficient funding to carry out its work. Funding arrangements were reviewed in April 2018 when cost-neutral changes were made to the SFO’s core budget enabling it to work flexibly and efficiently. This allows the SFO to carry out its work, including money laundering investigations that fit within its statutory remit.


Written Question
Serious Fraud Office
Friday 25th January 2019

Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what his powers are in relation to the Serious Fraud Office.

Answered by Robert Buckland

The Attorney General and Solicitor General superintend the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1987 and are the ministers responsible to Parliament for the work of the SFO. The SFO was created and given its functions and powers by the Criminal Justice Act 1987; it exercises those functions on behalf of the Crown. It is a non-ministerial department headed by the Director. The SFO is therefore independent and makes its own investigative and prosecutorial decisions independently. Part of the role of the Law Officer is to protect that independence.

The SFO also forms one of the ‘Law Officers’ Departments, and as such constitutes a public arm’s length body sponsored by the Attorney General’s Office. The terms of our sponsorship arrangement are set out in the Framework Agreement between the AGO and the SFO which was published on 22 January, replacing the 2009 Protocol document. The Framework Agreement is agreed between the Director of the SFO and the Law Officers.


Written Question
Bhanu Choudhrie and Sudhir Choudhrie
Thursday 24th January 2019

Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what representations the Serious Fraud Office has received on (a) Sudhir Choudhrie, (b) Bhanu Choudrie and (c) other related parties.

Answered by Robert Buckland

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is aware of the allegations made publicly about Sudhir and Bhanu Choudhrie. The SFO can neither confirm nor deny if Sudhir or Bhanu Choudhrie are currently subject to investigation by the SFO, or what, if any, representations the SFO has received about them.

In order to protect the investigative process it is not always possible, or even desirable for investigative bodies to confirm whether or not an individual or organisation is subject to an investigation, or provide any details of matters under investigation.

The SFO proactively publishes information about its cases on its website whenever it is appropriate.


Written Question
Bhanu Choudhrie and Sudhir Choudhrie
Wednesday 23rd January 2019

Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what is the status of (a) SFO and (b) CPS investigations into (i) Sudhir Choudhrie, (ii) Bhanu Choudhrie and (iii) other related parties.

Answered by Robert Buckland

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is aware of the allegations made publicly about Sudhir and Bhanu Choudhrie. The SFO can neither confirm nor deny if Sudhir or Bhanu Choudhrie are currently subject to investigation by the SFO, or what, if any, representations the SFO has received about them.

In order to protect the investigative process it is not always possible, or even desirable for investigative bodies to confirm whether or not an individual or organisation is subject to an investigation, or provide any details of matters under investigation.

The SFO proactively publishes information about its cases on its website whenever it is appropriate.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes cases that are referred to it by the police and does not have any investigative function.