Alleged lottery scammer must forfeit BMW X6, pay $12M, court rules

A man said to be involved in lottery scamming has been ordered by the Supreme Court to pay $12 million to the authorities and hand over a BMW X6 sport utility vehicle valued at $3.2 million.

The order was made last month after Simnel Mullings entered into a consent agreement, bringing to an end a civil recovery application filed by the Assets Recovery Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Financial Investigations Division disclosed.

Under the agreement, Mullings is to pay $4.5 million immediately. The remaining balance will be paid in 16 equal monthly instalments of $468,750, with the first payment due at the end of this month.

The BMW X6, which has already been handed over to the FID, was registered in the name of one of Mullings' associates. However, investigators said their probe revealed that he was the beneficial owner of the vehicle.

According to the FID, the application alleged that assets acquired by Mullings were linked to the proceeds of unlawful conduct connected to lottery scamming.

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.

Keith Darien, Principal Director of Financial Crime Investigations at the FID, said civil recovery is one of the tools used to stop criminals from benefiting from illegal activities.

"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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