Alleged lottery scammer ordered by court to pay $12 million and forfeit BMW X6

A man who was allegedly involved in lottery scamming activities has been ordered by the Supreme Court to pay $12 million to the authorities and forfeit a BMW X6 sport utility vehicle valued at $3.2 million.

The consent order was made last month, ending an application filed by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) against Simnel Mullings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), the Financial Investigations Division (FID) has disclosed.

The FID is the body established by law to enforce the POCA, the legislation that was enacted to combat financial crimes such as money laundering.

The POCA also allows for the investigation, freezing, and forfeiture of assets suspected to be acquired through criminal activities.

ARA is the enforcement arm of the FID.

Mullings agreed to pay the ARA $4.5 million immediately.

The balance will be paid in 16 equal monthly instalments of $468,750.

The first payment is due at the end of this month.

The X6, which has already been handed over to the FID, was registered in the name of an associate of Mullings, but investigations revealed that he was the beneficial owner, according to the FID.

The civil recovery application by the ARA alleged that assets acquired by Mullings were connected to the proceeds of unlawful conduct.

Among the evidence presented in court was that Mullings received money transfers totalling US$54,695 from various senders in the United States between September 2009 and December 2010, the FID disclosed.

Keith Darien, Principal Director of Financial Crime Investigations at the FID, said civil recovery is one of the tools that is used “to stop crime from paying”.

“Where the evidence supports it, even where there is no conviction, we will use due process to recover illicit benefit, deter offenders and protect the public interest, especially when fraud and deception cause so much harm locally and overseas,” Darien said.

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