So sang Marvin Gaye on his 1971 Billboard Top 10 album, ‘What’s Going On’. It is some months since Neil Wilby Media published their most recent article featuring Operation Laggan and what is claimed to be the biggest failed fraud investigation and prosecution in the history of the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom.Continue reading “‘What’s happening, brother’”
Tag Archives: Ralph Christie
‘You couldn’t make it up’
On this day nine years ago, 14th October, 2013, a criminal trial, alleging large scale fraud, opened at the picturesque courthouse in Chania, Crete. A notable event as Greece’s largest island is a popular tourist destination with exceptionally low levels of crime The stakes were high as the defendant, Ralph John Christie, 52 years oldContinue reading “‘You couldn’t make it up’”
Will landmark birthday bring change of heart for troubled ex-cop?
Today, 17th October, 2022, marks the 60th birthday of Cedric Mark Christie, writes Neil Wilby. The youngest of four brothers, he grew up in Headingley, Leeds before joining the police service as a cadet. He graduated in 1981, becoming a warranted officer and giving ‘exemplary’ service for 30 years before retiring at the rank ofContinue reading “Will landmark birthday bring change of heart for troubled ex-cop?”
Fraud flop back in the news
A miscarriage of justice case that has now been running for over 13 years is back in the news. Starting next week – on Friday 14th October, 2022 – a series of three articles will cover the latest legal developments. To both recap and set the scene, the first article featuring Leeds-born Ralph Christie, 63,Continue reading “Fraud flop back in the news”
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
On 5th March, 2015 at Bradford Crown Court, Ralph John Christie was sentenced to seven years in prison at the end of a trial lasting almost eight weeks. He had been found guilty on five counts of fraud by false representation relating to property business dealing on the Greek island of Crete (read more here).Continue reading “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”
Will lack of funding block road to justice?
A long-running battle against alleged miscarriages of justice is grinding along slowly, but surely. But, as so many have found before Ralph Christie, a Leeds-born carpet trader turned property developer, a lack of funds severely hampers the process, writes Neil Wilby. The proceedings in question began with his arrest by West Yorkshire Police in July,Continue reading “Will lack of funding block road to justice?”
Watt a carry on
This is the second of two linked articles featuring the innocence claim of Ralph Christie, a Crete-based property developer who was convicted of five fraud offences at Bradford Crown Court in 2015. It focuses on the role of former business associate turned prosecution witness, Susan Watt. The first of the two articles, which sets outContinue reading “Watt a carry on”
New information aids upcoming innocence claim bid
A case that began with a criminal investigation in July, 2009 is still beset, very nearly twelve years later, by impediments in two legal jurisdictions, thousands of miles apart, writes Neil Wilby. In September, 2020, it was reported elsewhere on this website that an appeal hearing on the Greek island of Crete had been delayedContinue reading “New information aids upcoming innocence claim bid”
Greek trial delayed until connected proceedings in Bradford are heard
The CoVID19 crisis that has afflicted the criminal and civil justice systems in England and Wales appears to have extended to the paradise Greek island of Crete. An appeal against a judgment that was handed down as long ago as April, 2013 was adjourned at a short hearing on 22nd September, 2020. It is nowContinue reading “Greek trial delayed until connected proceedings in Bradford are heard”
Day of reckoning
In the summer of 2009, a dispute began between two erstwhile business partners when Bradford businessman, Stephen Thomas, walked into a police station and reported concerns over his dealings with Ralph Christie, a Leeds-born flooring retailer and contractor turned property developer, who had risen to prominence on the paradise Greek island of Crete over theContinue reading “Day of reckoning”
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