A man from Croydon is among six immigration officers who have appeared in court facing various charges related to them stealing money from people arriving in Britain after having crossed the Channel in small boats.
Vulnerable: six Home Office officials, including David Grundy from Croydon, have been charged with offences linked to stealing from migrants arriving by small boat
David Grundy, 43, from Croydon, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week charged with converting criminal property – money laundering.
The other immigration officers in the dock were also charged with conspiracy to steal or misconduct in public office.
Prosecutor Rosalind Earis told the court that the charges related to thefts of “property belonging to migrants arriving at Dover between August 2021 and November 2022”.
Earis said the defendants “conspired together to steal cash from migrants on small boats” and then “worked together to take money and share it out”.
The case followed inquiries by Home Office anti-corruption investigators, she said.
The court heard the six defendants were colleagues in immigration enforcement clandestine operations response teams based at Dover and at Manston in Kent.
In addition to charges of conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office and converting criminal property, 36-year-old Besmir Matera, from Reigate, is accused of obtaining leave to enter the UK by deception between 2003 and 2004.
He is further accused of three counts of possession of an identity document with improper intention, namely a passport, a full driving licence and a provisional driving licence.
The other co-defendants, charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office and converting criminal property are: Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, of Bracknell; John Bernthal, 53, from Welling; Ben Edwardes, 45, of Bexleyheath; and Jack Mitchell, 33, of Dover.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring bailed the defendants ahead of a further hearing due to be held at Southwark Crown Court on February 26.
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