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Three held over Jasper City Hall fraud inquiry
Justin Davenport, Evening Standard15.05.08
Three more people have been arrested in connection with the fraud inquiry into City Hall-funded projects linked to former mayor's aide Lee Jasper.
Two men and a woman were held by Scotland Yard's fraud squad at two addresses in Chafford Hundred in Essex early today.
The arrests are related to an inquiry into allegations that up to £190,000 in grants went missing from Brixton Base, an arts training hub for young people.
Those arrested today are Eroll Walters, 43, the project's chairman and a close friend of Mr Jasper; a director of Brixton Base, Donald Lindo, 42, and Sharon Walters, 41. So far, six people have been arrested in connection with the fraud inquiry.
Mr Jasper, who was Ken Livingstone's race adviser, quit his £120,000-a-year post after the disclosure that he sent sexually charged emails to a woman involved in running one of the projects. He faces claims that he used his position to fund organisations with which he was personally connected.
The Met inquiry came after the Standard raised questions over millions of pounds in grants handed out by the Mayor's business arm, the London Development Agency, to groups which appeared to do little or nothing in return.
Police launched an investigation into Brixton Base in February. There were claims it received £510,000 from the LDA to provide media courses to young black people, but had then not been able to account for £193,000.
Filmmaker Shango B'Song said: "I financed... my project out of my own pocket, which I reckon came to £133,000 in cash and equipment. I saw almost none of the grant the LDA gave Brixton Base to pay for it. They told me they'd been refused a grant."
Other projects under investigation run by Mr Jasper's friends or associates are the Deshbangla Foundation, the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners, the South London Green Badge Taxi School, Diversity International and Ethnic Mutual.
Police have made three previous arrests in connection with fraud allegations at the Green Badge Taxi School and Diversity International.
The Met said today: "Detectives from the Specialist and Economic Crime Command have arrested three people from the Essex area for dishonestly obtaining property by deception and money laundering."
Reader views (13)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Keep digging and identify those who are keeping their heads down with their pockets full!
- Sl, Hackney
I think its all been spent on pies!
- Karen Haggerty, London
Well, well, well, it looks like the wheels of the gravy train are becoming a little sticky.
- Alex Taylor, Durban, South Africa
IF he is found guilty it looks as if he should have spent some of the money on a gym membership!
- Sam, london
After Uncle Ken has left, when the books are opened for close, I repeat, close inspection. Just how much a 'Can of Worms' will be revealed as a result of cronyism and non compliance with proper audits? However since Uncle Boris and the Conservatives are 'At the Helm', that does not mean that they can become smug, arrogant or complacent either. They should all be treated the same if there is a whiff of corruption and wrong-doing!
- B Clarke, Chelmsford Essex
15 years hard labour then deportation, that's the only way to clear foreign criminals off our streets.
- Alan Yates, Epping
As a leading member of the capital's trans community I can only decry the lack of cooperation that our duly elected representative is being given by his running mates. You were all in it to win it, now you appear to seek to exclude yourselves by openly stating that you will not work with Mr Johnson.
I for one would welcome the opportunity in helping him make London a better place to work, rest and play. I would go further and state that while I did not vote for Mr Johnson and am an avowed Liberal and a Democrat, I will support him as a democrat and as our duly elected representative. Those of you politicians that decry his ability and stoop to name calling and suffer from sour grapes, should realise that this is most likely the reason that the electorate did not back you in the first place. It is a prerequisite of government that individuals are part of the whole.
- Diana Taylor, London SE1
I think it is disgraceful that the office of mayor is associated with people like this. I think Boris should appoint someone trustworthy, like Jeffrey Archer, or Lord Ashcroft or Andrew Gilligan to advise him.
- Billy Blighty, Sydney Australia
We can be quite sure that, whatever happens to Lee Jasper himself, his assorted ethnic-supportive "projects" will be quite unaffected and will continue to hoover-up large quantities of taxpayers' money, albeit under "new management", i.e. the same people with different tiles.
The only remaining question is how will our ruling
LibLabConEUSSRIslamist triumvirate, aided and abetted by their Common Purpose-graduate (most probably) Metpol
Commissioner ensure that Ken Leninstone is completely exonerated of any knowledge of, much less complicity in, Lee Jasper's alleged rackets? Phrases such as "Insufficient evidence" and "Not in the public interest" spring to mind. Whatever the get-out employed, rest assured that Leninstone will be off the hook, scot-free and laughing all the way to the bank with his ex-mayoral pay-off.
- Noel A. Shaw, Bradford. uk
Media Courses for young blacks! There are hundreds of media courses at colleges and universities throughout London. This is racist claptrap. These people should attend proper courses. The courses set up via LDA are a complete waste of time, and are there to serve as some black power agenda.,
How about the LDA doing something useful and getting these people to become plumbers or steel erectors? Too superior for that eh?
- Mark Armstrong, London, UK
I spent 42 years in Africa, as a S/Supt of police (Airwing Branch)I/C pilot training and finishing up as a pilot contracted to the United Nations. Unfortunately, the likes of Lee Jasper are the norm rather than the exception throughout the continent, and it was widely acknowledged that if these people were to put as much energy into gaining useful employment and making an honest living, as they do in finding new methods to cheat and steal, they would be supplying us with aid.
This is not being racist, this is speaking the truth and there are countless people with their roots in Africa who would agree with me. It is time to stop talking like a politician and being politically correct and to speak out honestly.
- Peter C. Lucas, Torquay, England.
Lee Jasper, a week ago on BBC Radio London, you said no arrests have been made about the misuse of public funds dished out on your recommendations. What have you got to say about this?
I know they have only been arrested, but no charges have been preferred presently. It is like Ken boasting about an audit trail. You are singing from the same song sheet. Watch this space!
- V Tan, London
Quelle surprise! Now Red Ken's out, I think quite a few more inconvenient facts might emerge. Especially as Richard Barnbrook will have the opportunity to see the books.
- Dave Thomas, Swansea
