MALLORCA TODAY - Pollett joins Hirst on fraud charges

Richard Pollett, the accountant associated with John Hirst, appeared before Bradford Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was granted conditional bail, having been extradited from Mallorca. Mr. Hirst, charged with fraud in connection with an alleged Ponzi scheme that operated out of Mallorca, is due to stand trial next year. Members of the Hirst family have also appeared before the magistrates in West Yorkshire, and now Mr. Pollett has come before the court as well.

When Mr. Pollett was arrested in Mallorca last year, his name was not revealed, as is the convention to not name suspects, but his initials were released, so it was clear who it was. His arrest was a year or so after the original Hirst story broke, and "The Sunday Telegraph", which took a keen interest in the affairs of Mr. Hirst's Gilher investment company at the centre of the allegations, reported thus:

"Mr. Hirst found clients through British financial professionals based in Majorca, one of whom, chartered accountant Richard Pollett, based in Santa Ponsa, introduced 50 of his clients to the Gilher scheme.
Mr. Pollett said: 'I introduced people to John Hirst's scheme and they placed with him the equivalent of $12,000,000 in euros, pounds and US dollars.
'It included my own wife, Jill's, money, my daughter's trust fund and money from close relatives.
'After working with him for six years, going on holiday with him and Linda and seeing him regularly socially, I thought I knew him well. And, like everyone else, I found him a very decent bloke, who seemed thoroughly trustworthy.
'Now I feel like a wreck. I'm ill over what's gone on and can't even sum up what I feel about all those people who face financial hardship and possible ruin if their money isn't found.' "


COMMENTS: This item is attracting anonymous comments. I hope you'll appreciate why they are not being posted. I have every sympathy for those who have been affected by the case, but it is all a matter for the SFO. As with when this story first broke in 2009, it is better to direct any information, be it about Mr. Hirst, Mr. Pollett or indeed members of their respective families, to the UK fraud office. Thanks.