22m pounds fraud bankrolled lawyer John Blavo’s life of luxury
A Ghanaian director of one of England’s leading legal aid law firms has been ordered to pay back more than £22 million in public money following numerous fake claims.
John Blavo is reported to have fraudulently created about 23,000 fake legal aid claims in three years.
UK newspapers report that his firm, Blavo & Co Solicitors, was closed in 2015 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority when concerns were raised about its huge legal claims.
Source: UGC
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The Metropolitan Police subsequently launched a criminal investigation into the alleged fraud, and the case is still not closed.
According to the Times, a High Court judge has now ruled that Blavo's firm entertained an 'endemic' culture of dishonesty and 'systematic fraud' after making thousands of false claims on the legal aid fund.
The 57-year-old Ghanaian is believed to have lived a life of luxury, where he bought so many super cars.
Blavos is reported to be living in a multimillion-pound house in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in England and also reportedly owned property across the world.
Meanwhile, Blavos previously worked as a sports lawyer, and had engagements with several Premier League players.
Once he was the representative of former Arsenal right back Lauren and ex-West Ham and Ghana international John Paintsil.
His firm was one of the largest three legal aid firms in the country - with 200 employees operating in 18 offices across England and Wales just four years after it was founded in 2011.
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Blavo’s firm was into mental health law as well as criminal, clinical negligence, housing, immigration and family law.
But an investigation four years ago by the Legal Aid Agency found that Blavo & Co made 24,658 legal aid fee claims for representing clients at mental health hearings between April 2012 and March 2015.
The Legal Aid Agency only found evidence of 1,485 of these cases taking place.
Following a seven-day hearing, Blavo - as the sole shareholder and manager of the firm - was ordered to repay £22,136,001 claimed for legal aid work which did not exist.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
