Prosecutors claw back £1.8million from a gangland money launderer who was named in the Panama Papers after selling his home, painting and gold bars… while he’s still on the run
UK authorities have recovered £1.8 million from the restrained assets of Lenn Mayhew-Lewis, a convicted money launderer who remains on the run. The recovery matters because prosecutors say he used companies and bank accounts to disguise criminal cash as legitimate income.
The money came from the sale of his Surrey home for £766,000, a Frank Auerbach painting for £620,000, and nearly 18lb (8kg) of gold for £469,000. Mayhew-Lewis, 71, was sentenced in his absence to five years in prison for money laundering and received a further nine-month sentence for perverting the course of justice; he is believed to be in Africa.
- Authorities recovered £1.8 million from Mayhew-Lewis’s assets.
- His home, an Auerbach painting and gold were sold.
- The fugitive was sentenced to five years for money laundering.
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Lenn Mayhew-Lewis is a British money launderer who remains on the run from UK authorities. The 71-year-old was named in the Panama Papers, the leaked financial documents that exposed how wealthy individuals hide money offshore. His case has drawn significant attention for demonstrating authorities' ability to pursue major financial crime suspects.
Money laundering involves disguising illegally obtained cash to make it appear legitimate. Mayhew-Lewis used networks of companies and bank accounts to hide criminal proceeds and present them as lawful income. This practice enables criminals to profit from their illegal activities whilst evading detection.
After his disappearance, Mayhew-Lewis was convicted and sentenced in his absence to five years in prison for money laundering and nine months for obstructing justice. Authorities believe he is currently in Africa. His prosecution shows the legal system's resolve to pursue financial crime suspects even when they flee the country.