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CASE FILE EVENTS LOG
OFFICE RUGELEY MSPO WS15 2BE - 264 242
Date Event
13.01.03 I 1500 hrs, received telephone call form Marie Perry, informing me
that Customs had arrested an outsider
were looking to pursue the Sub Postmaster.
and
Contacted Claire Damant (Customs) who informed me thai
had been seen to go into Rugeley Post Office at 0730
hours that morning, he was later arrested by Customs Officers as
he attended another Bureau de Change facility in the
Birmingham area. ‘had 584,000 Euro on him and a
receipt from Rugeley Post Office dated 13.01.03 at 0838 hrs for a
bureau transaction for £ 360,000 worth of Euros at an exchange
rate of 1.62.
The rate at the Post Office should have been 1.4752, 4
was about to cash them in at a rate of 1.53 making a immediate
profit of £ 21,000.
Brian Mathews from Customs made arrangements with
Staffordshire Serious Crime Unit to arrest Sub Postmaster.
Mandy Bushell routed to meet with Police at Rugeley Post office.
Manish Patel en route from St Albans, Mr P Gerrish made aware
of incident.
Colin Price makes arrangements with Audit section (Glyn
Burrows) to audit office on morning of 14.01.03.
Staffordshire Police attended Rugeley Post Office approximately
1700 hours, informed SPMR (Mr Carl Page) had left office
approximately 1500 hrs.
Mandy Bushell & I attend Staffordshire Police HQ facility and
liaise with DI Mark Abbotts and his team at which time I learn of
a third individual (Driver) who was arrested witl
Mr Pages whereabouts were unknown, however Police managed
to make contact via mobile phone and Mr Page asked to attend
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Stafford Police station later that evening.
Warrant for Post Office has been obtained and four Police
Officers (D., Sgt Hughes), Mandy Bushell and myself attend
Rugeley MSPO that evening. Met with Margaret Pearce
(employee at Rugeley) who held keys for office and allowed
access to office.
M Bushell and I pointed out documents which required seizure,
which were seized and documented by Police officers. Main safe
and two sub safes opened, safe containing bureau till found to
contain five (5) cheques to a total value of some £640,000.
Following search, office secured and arrangements made for
Audit team to attend office at 0745 hours. M Bushell and I offer
assistance to Police to interview SPMR, however, Police state that
only a very brief interview would take place that evening and
therefore do not require us to stay.
Mr Page interviewed briefly by Police that evening. All three
subjects held overnight, searches of home addresses conducted
by Police.
14.01.03
Mandy Bushell & I met with Audit team (4) at Rugeley MSPO
0730 hours. Met up with Margaret Pearce and two other
employees and gained entry to Post Office which remained
closed for business that day.
Full audit conducted.
Mr Mark Irvin attended office at 0830 hours.
Mandy Bushell takes statement from Margaret Pearce.
Manish Patel attends Staffordshire Police HQ to attend meeting
with Police, agreed that Post Office would take charge of
investigation and any resulting prosecution, Police t ist with
ns Rugeley
Contact made with Mr R G Wilson (Head of Criminal Law),
apprised of situation.
MP makes contact with Stafford Police Station Custody suite and
speaks with Mr Carl Page via telephone; he is advised that on
the authority of Mr Irvin (RLM), I was suspending his contract
for services pending a full investigation. Mr Irvin then spoke
with Mr page regarding appointing an interim SPMR which was
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agreed.
MP takes statement from Shirly Batey (employee who normally
operates the Bureau de Change)
Audit completed and office short by £ 645,345.18 (having not
taken the five Bureau cheques into account for £640K)
MB & MP attend Stafford Police Station and meet up with DC
Chris Andrews & Lisa, Interviewing officers who had
interviewed Mr Page previously and the driver,
Informed that F as bailed [
not allow him to be further interviewed. Bailed to Cannock
Police Station on 24 February 2003 at 1200 hrs. Driver also
Bailed to Cannock Police station on 24% February 2003 at 1000
hrs.
Following disclosure to Mr Pages Solicitor, DC Andrews and
myself conduct interview of Mr Page. Mr Page later bailed to
return to Stafford Police station on 4 March 2003.
15.01.03
Mr Mark Irvin requested by Mandy Bushell to collect exhibits
from Staffordshire Police HQ, I discussed with Police regarding
the presentation of the five seized Cheques.
Mr R Wilson consulted about the decision to process the five
cheques, it was agreed that as four of them related to the £ 360K
transaction of 13.01.03 and the equivalent in Euros was held by
the Police that these cheques would not be presented. Agreed
that the 5t cheque for £ 278,000 should be presented.
Mr Irvin requested to present £ 278,000 cheque to Co Op Bank in
Stafford for express clearance.
DI Abbots spoken to by myself regarding freezing accounts but
‘was informed that this was not possible unless Post charge or
imminent charge.
Mandy Bushell (PM) made me aware that she had taken a call
from a lady in Chesterfield who had informed her that they had
received three (3) cheques (100K, 91K & 87K) all from bureau
transactions conducted at Rugeley over the Christmas 2002
period which had been “Payment Stopped”, Lady at Chesterfield
was asked to contact me.
MP (St Albans), spoke with Elaine Lievensley who faxed me
copies of the three cheques and made me aware of two further
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cheques to the value of £ 184,000 which were in the system also
being returned to the Post Office.
Appraised Mr P Gerrish of situation who suggested that advice
should be sought from Civil Litigation regarding the freezing of
Bank Accounts and assets.
Spoke with Mr Joe Ashton (Head of Civil Litigation) who put me
in touch with Mrs Biddy Wyles (Senior Lawyer) and meeting
arranged for Thursday morning (0930 Croydon)
Mr Michael Cooksey (Investigation Manager) contacted and
requested to collect exhibits from Mr M Irvin that evening.
Interim report compiled by MP and e-mailed to Civil Litigation,
Criminal Law & Phil Gerrish.
16.01.03
MP meets with M Cooksey at 0700 hrs (15a) and collects exhibits
which are driven to Impact House Croydon.
Mandy Bushell obtains statements from Mr Mark Irvin & Mr
James Coney (RLM’s)
MP’s Affidavit prepared by Biddy Wyles and Colin Fenny.
Further copies of five cheques faxed to Croydon by Elaine from
Chesterfield.
Mr Tony Utting requested to extract and copy portions of
Bureau till role from Mid December 2002 to 13.01.03 relating to
Whitehouse transactions. Mr Utting then prepares excel
spreadsheet with above transactions shown.
Bank account details received via fax from Dc Andrews who was
with Customs & Excise.
Mr Hugh Stacey attends Civil Litigation office to explain how
First rate and Post Office deal with Currency.
Raj Kalsi contacted who provides the preferential exchange rates
for Euro’s on the days requested as per schedule which is
updated by MP and used in Affidavit.
Jackie (ChaD - Hemel) contacted and asked to provide figures
for the delivery of Euros to Rugeley MSPO over a 1 year period.
Arrangements made to meet with Claire Damant (Customs) on
Friday afternoon.
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17.01.03
1st Affidavit sworn (am) and faxed to Civil Litigation, however
slight amendments were then required and arrangements made
to attend Croydon.
Fax received from Laurie Hutchins (ChaD) with all Euro
deliveries to Rugeley since 16.01.02 to 13.01.03.
Meeting with Customs & Excise in London (Claire Damant)
MP attends Croydon and new affidavit (24) sworn in and
original left with Joe Ashton.
Mr P Gerrish appraised of current status.
20.01.03
MP advised by Biddy Wyles that further amendments required
in Affidavit therefore a 34 draft prepared. Bi
further Exchange rates for receipts found on!
at time of arrest.
Raj Kalsi requested to obtain exchange rate info. From First rate.
Figures telephoned through to MP and supplied to Biddy who
included them in new schedule.
MP arranges with Customs & Excise to Meet Wednesday 22n4
January 2003 in Birmingham (Police unable to attend).
MP Attends High Court 1530 hours, Judge Grants Freezing
orders for RPX Recycled Plastics, f
to £ 640,000.00.
3rd Affidavit sworn in by MP, original with Biddy Wyles.
Biddy Wyles Faxes orders to Banks that evening.
Tony Marsh & Phil Gerrish appraised of Freezing orders.
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