Two prominent Edinburgh criminals have today been ordered to pay back more than £1million from their illegal activities.
Confiscation Orders have been issued to Margaret Paterson and Robert Munro under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). In 2013, they were sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted for brothel-keeping, money laundering and living on the earnings of prostitution.
However, under the POCA, enforcement authorities have the powers to track down and recover the profits of crime from individuals deemed to have benefited from a criminal lifestyle.
As such, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, has secured an order against Paterson and Munro to pay back £1m and £96,836 respectively.
Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray said: “These Confiscation Orders are some of the largest in Police Scotland’s history and they send out a very clear message to organised criminals everywhere that we will do everything in our power to ensure they do not benefit from illegal gains.
“Organised crime can cause untold harm on our communities and Police Scotland is committed to tackling serious crime and associated offences.
“If criminals believe their money is safe once a sentence has been handed down then they are wrong. We will work tirelessly to ensure that we can reclaim criminal earnings and put them to good use in our towns and communities across Scotland.”
The money seized under the POCA will be redistributed to communities across Scotland under the Cashback for Communities programme.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
