24 February 2010

Conference time: 0845hrs – 1630hrs

Background

The CML compile and publish a range of statistics on the UK housing and mortgage markets including key data on mortgage lending, arrears and possessions and market segments such as buy-to-let. This unparalleled knowledge and insight into the important role housing plays in the economy is the basis on which this conference programme is built.

The detailed content will help all organisations, not just lenders, operating within the world of housing. The content discussed will be crucial to understanding current and future housing market conditions.

Chaired by Sue Anderson, head of external affairs, Council of Mortgage Lenders

Expert speakers will include:

• Michael Coogan, Director General, Council of Mortgage Lenders
• Rt. Hon John Healey MP, Minister for Housing and Planning
• Peter Williams, housing consultant and Chairman, IMLA
• Steven Hall, director, KPMG
• Bob Pannell, head of research, Council of Mortgage Lenders
• John Stewart, director of economic affairs, Home Builders Federation
• Rob Thomas, senior policy adviser, Council of Mortgage Lenders

Delegates currently booked on include:

• Technical director, Allied Surveyors
• Head of sales, Halifax Intermediaries
• Head of product delivery, HBOS plc
• Team leader, housing regeneration and third sector team, HM Treasury
• Business project manager, Legal and General Assurance Society

Cost:

£275 for members (VAT exempt)
£325 for non-members (VAT exempt)

Our event fees remain highly competitive with prices for members and associates not having increased since January 2007

Location:

The Westbury Hotel, Bond Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 2YF

This event is open to press

Six individuals have been charged with offences in connection with a series of high value commercial mortgage frauds.  Following a hearing at City of London Magistrates’ Court the case has been sent to Southwark Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on 4 January 2010.

The investigation was referred to the Serious Fraud Office in March 2006 by West Midlands Police following a complaint from the Cheshire Building Society.

It is alleged that the defendants participated in a series of frauds whereby they dishonestly obtained loans from banks or building societies that were secured on six commercial investment properties. Each property was transferred between companies controlled by one of the defendants and his associates at highly inflated prices in a series of back to back transactions. On the basis of the grossly inflated prices, fraudulent valuations and forged leases, the defendants applied for and obtained mortgage advances totalling nearly £50 million.  The mortgages were quickly defaulted on and the lenders suffered significant losses.

Five individuals, Ian McGarry (d.o.b 10/05/69), Hardeep Sodhi (d.o.b 05/10/76), Fatema Patwa (d.o.b 20/02/62), Saghir Afzal (d.o.b 01/01/62) and Laurence Ferrigan (d.o.b 20/11/61) have been charged with offences of conspiracy to obtain a money transfer by deception and dishonestly obtaining a money transfer. Simon Lawrence (d.o.b 07/04/61) has been charged with conspiracy to obtain a money transfer by deception.

Notes

At the relevant time:

• Ian McGarry was a chartered surveyor at Dunlop Haywards Lorenz;
• Fatema Patwa was the sole principal of her own firm, Patwa Solicitors, based in Birmingham.
• Hardeep Sodhi was a solicitor employed at Patwa Solicitors in Birmingham.
• Laurence Ferrigan was a partner at The CFB Partnership, Wanstead, East London.
• Saghir Afzal was a company director and property owner.
• Simon Lawrence was a partner of Darlingtons Solicitors in, Edgware

Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ

Press Office tel: 020 7239 7001/7004 or mobile: 0781 807 6688

Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272

press.office@sfo.gsi.gov.uk – or via – www.sfo.gov.uk