Former Worthing councillor in fraud arrest (From The Argus)
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Former Worthing councillor in fraud arrest
7:26pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in News
A former councillor is at the centre of a fraud investigation.
Mark O’Keeffe, who sat as a Conservative for Worthing Borough Council’s Castle ward between 2000 and 2002, was last month banned from
working for solicitors’ firms after faking a letter to a court.
The Argus can reveal he has also been arrested on suspicion of fraud and is due to answer bail on Monday.
Mr O’Keeffe, 40, worked as a “process server” for solicitors’ firms.
When he was evicted from a rented property in Forest Barn Mews, Castle Goring, in December last year, he left behind six bags of legal documents containing details of solicitors’ clients.
When his landlord passed them to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), it discovered he had written a letter to Worthing Magistrates’ Court claiming to be from Baker & Co solicitors.
In fact he had written it himself on behalf of someone he was planning to represent in court, even though he was not a solicitor.
A statement from the SRA’s adjudicator, Nigel Butcher, said: “Mr O’Keeffe acknowledged that he had not acted appropriately in relation to the production of the letter and that he had acted
“naively” in relation to the abandonment of the documents.”
The body banned Mr O’Keeffe, now of Marine Crescent, Goring, from being employed as a solicitor or working for a solicitors’ firm.
The ban came into force on August 15.
Sussex Police said: “A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of fraud in July.
“He has been interviewed and released on police bail until Monday, September 10, pending further enquiries.”
Comments(9)
John Steed
says...
7:56pm Sun 9 Sep 12
chrisinbrighton wrote:misguided comment it should read "Thats Con artists for you" they come in all colours including green.
That's the Tories for you
it should be noted that he was a councillor ten years ago.
a photo would be helpfull, his recent actions may throw doubt on numerous legal cases
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
8:58pm Sun 9 Sep 12
Recent court cases with them as defendants, include child abuse, and a few cases of wife/mistress beating.
What a lovely bunch.
High Wire
says...
11:31pm Sun 9 Sep 12
Isaac Rinkfern wrote:Are you really THAT colour blind? Who do you vote for - must be a party I've never heard of?? They're all up to their necks in it...
NO, that is Tories for you, especially Adur and Worthing tories.
Recent court cases with them as defendants, include child abuse, and a few cases of wife/mistress beating.
What a lovely bunch.
Crystal Ball
says...
8:40am Mon 10 Sep 12
F in L
says...
9:19am Mon 10 Sep 12
Crystal Ball wrote:Got my vote! Not a Green amongst them.
Tories, Labour, Moonies and Trustees of Modern Chemistry, they are all very similar...
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
9:23am Mon 10 Sep 12
High Wire wrote:Yes I am colour blind as it happens, however, living in Adur local councillors only come in blue, so we never get a chance to hear about any others getting nicked.
Isaac Rinkfern wrote:Are you really THAT colour blind? Who do you vote for - must be a party I've never heard of?? They're all up to their necks in it...
NO, that is Tories for you, especially Adur and Worthing tories.
Recent court cases with them as defendants, include child abuse, and a few cases of wife/mistress beating.
What a lovely bunch.
Goldenwight
says...
11:51am Mon 10 Sep 12
cupcake 72
says...
2:50pm Mon 10 Sep 12
To quote from the article Mr O'Keeffe said at the time “The papers should have been shredded. It just seems to be a total disregard for people's confidential information.” How ironic!
chrisinbrighton says...
7:30pm Sun 9 Sep 12