Four other persons have already been charged. Morris, who was returned from Australia yesterday on an extradition warrant, has been remanded in custody to appear before Southwark Crown Court on 8 April.
Anthony James Morris, 48, of Palm Beach, New South Wales, Australia appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday to be charged with conspiracy to defraud, theft and aiding and abetting fraud. Tony Morris was a founding director of The Money Portal, which was the parent company of GP Noble Trustees Limited.
This action is a further development in this case. It follows the charging of four other persons in relation to this investigation.
Peter Malmstrom, age, 43, of London, an associate of Tony Morris, was charged in November 2010 with money laundering and proceeds of crime offences.
Already charged, in March 2010, and subject to a separate trial are Graham Pitcher, 49, and Gary Cordell, 42, both former trustees at GP Noble. Their trial at Southwark Crown Court opens on 3 May 2011.
Independent financial advisor Quentin Russell, 53, was charged in November 2009. His trial, also at Southwark Crown Court, is scheduled for 19 September 2011.
Background
This case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office in July 2008 by The Pensions Regulator following concerns raised over the conduct of the independent trustee company G P Noble Trustees Limited.
Also in July 2008, TPR appointed Independent Trustee Services Limited to manage the nine affected pension schemes in place of GP Noble. TPR suspended GP Noble and two of its directors/officers, Graham Pitcher and Gary Cordell, from acting as trustees. All three have since been prohibited from acting as trustees and GP Noble has gone into liquidation.
Searches, arrests and interviews were carried out on 20 and 22 August 2008 with the assistance of officers from Nottinghamshire Police and City of London Police.
The prosecution revolves around the alleged theft of £52 million in two tranches: £30 million was taken in August 2007 and £22 million in April 2008 from nine pension schemes managed by G.P. Noble Trustees Limited and BDC Trustees Limited.
The alleged actions exposed the pensions of approximately 2,200 people to unacceptable risk.
