A father and son today appeared in court on 22 charges of money laundering allegedly involving nearly £500,000. Independent financial advisers Mr Michael Joseph Aiken (64) from JonesboroughVillage, Newry, Co Down and Mr Michael Christopher Aiken (35) of Moygannon Road,Warrenpoint, Co Down, both denied the charges at Belfast Magistrates' Court.
The accused are alleged to have committed the offences while running financialservices company Northern Ireland Insurance Brokers Ltd in Belfast's StranmillisRoad.
The charges, involving amounts totalling £480,000 and allegedly the proceedsof criminal conduct by two named individuals, are said to have been committedbetween 1997 and 2000.
Just one sample charge was put to the two men during today's hearing.
It said: "On a date unknown between May 1st and September 30th 1997 knowing or having reasonable grounds to suspect that certain property - namely £110,470.63p - was in whole or part, directly or indirectly, represented Ben Dolan's proceeds of criminal conduct, acquired, used or had possession of that property contrary to Article 45 of the Proceeds of Crime Order 1996".
The court was told the 21 other charges were similar. The second name given in the charge sheets was Mr Maurice Gass.
The accused were remained on bail of £5,000 each and one surety of £10,000 each to February 4th 2003, for the next hearing of what the crown lawyer said was"a complex matter".
Solicitor Mr Rory McShane, representing the Aikens, told the court: "Both of these defendants deny the charges and in the event of them being returned for trial all the charges will be contested."
PA