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Jailed with £40,000 confiscated
On 15th February 2008, Ajmail Singh Sahota of London Road, Crayford was one of eight men convicted of conspiracy to steal from Coca Cola Enterprises. A criminal network of employees working at the Coca Cola Distribution Centre in Sidcup picked out, loaded and delivered numerous stolen pallets of Coca Cola cans and bottles (1 pallet = 100 cases approximately) to Mr Sahota at his shop, AJ & Sons Mini Market in Bridge Road, Slade Green, for sale by him at a considerable profit. These crimes occurred over at least a three month period. The Coca Cola Security Team became aware of this practice and contacted the Metropolitan Police, who arrested and charged seven employees with conspiracy to steal.
Ajmail Sahota was arrested at his shop address and a total of £670 of Coca Cola drinks was seized. Whilst Sahota was awaiting trial he attempted to intimidate the main prosecution witnesses by threatening to kill them. He was arrested for this and remanded in custody until the time of his criminal trial. Having been found guilty of these offences both Ajmail Sahota and his brother, Durmeet Singh Sahota, were also sentenced for actual bodily harm. The victim was beaten unconscious and hospitalised for two weeks as a result of the attack and Sahota was sentenced to three years imprisonment in respect of the attack.
A detailed analysis of Ajmail Sahota’s financial affairs was embarked on by the Met Police’s Payback Unit and a confiscation order totaling £40,000 was made by the judge. Unless Sahota pays this, the prison sentence will extend by a further 17 months in addition to the three years he is currently serving. A further £11,460 was confiscated from his co-conspirators.
Coincidently the Metropolitan Police is celebrating “Payback Fortnight” which aims to show the public how they are taking money and assets back from criminals and putting it into worthwhile community projects or into local policing.
The money gained back from this asset recovery is used to provide more police officers - last year an extra 90 police officers were paid from criminal’s illegitimate earnings and investments made in worthwhile community projects. This is done by giving £500,000 a year to the Safer London Foundation who provide funds for worthwhile community projects across London.
Any community groups wishing to receive money which has been seized from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act to use to benefit their community in a worthwhile cause should apply to the Safer London Foundation by visiting their website at www.saferlondonfoundation.org.
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