Serious Fraud Office told to pay £6m in failed case

Six people cleared of a multi-million pound fraud conspiracy involving the sale of four opencast mining sites in Wales are to receive £6m in compensation

The Serious Fraud Office has been ordered to pay the multi-million legal costs after a High Court judge last year ruled that the firm Celtic Energy had not acted unlawfully.

The charges related to an alleged plot to defraud Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Powys Councils, as well as the Coal Authority.

The opencast sites in Wales are at Margam, Sellar, East Pit and Nant Helen.

The SFO tried to prosecute a retired consultant solicitor, Eric Evans, his professional partner, Alan Whiteley, and assistant solicitor Frances Bodman.

They had, between them, set up a complex commercial transaction concerning £170 million restoration obligations at opencast mining sites for Richard Walters and Leighton Humphreys, directors of the Welsh mining company Celtic Energy.

The SFO also tried to prosecute Stephen Davies QC, a leading insolvency QC and deputy High Court Judge, who advised that the scheme was lawful.

After a complicated costs hearing, in two jurisdictions, the SFO has been ordered to pay the legal bills of the six accused.

All parties always vehemently denied having done anything wrong.

A spokesperson for the Serious Fraud Office said, "The SFO is considering possible avenues of appeal in relation to the judgment of Hickinbottom J on the issue of costs in this case.”