Accountant jailed for £10m Majorca investment fraud

Richard Pollett jailed for his role in ex-pat investment fraud

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Writer Date published September 4, 2012 Categories

AN ACCOUNTANT was among three people jailed for a total of 18 years for investment fraud.

Richard Pollett, a chartered accountant working in Majorca, John Hirst and Linda Hirst (ne?e Waite) were jailed for using £10m of investment to maintain their lifestyles.

Pollett and Hirst set up Gilher Inc, then fleeced members of the Majorca ex-pat community between 2001 and 2009. About half of the invested funds were never returned.

John Hirst pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Pollett was extradited from Spain and found guilty of conspiracy to defraud. Linda Hirst was found guilty of three counts of money laundering and one count of evading a liability by deception.

Two other defendants (Daniel Hirst and Zoe Waite) were acquitted of charges of money laundering.

John Hirst was imprisoned for nine years, and Linda Hirst for two and a half years. Pollet was jailed for six and a half years.

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