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BELEM SKY TEAK PLANTATION FRAUD

Omari Bowers and Andrew Skeene's ponzi scheme at Global Forestry Investments

    Latest Updates
    Documents & Evidence
    Financial Fraud
    False Promises
    Tracking Skeene & Bowers

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BPGM Belem Sky Plantation Update

January 23, 2014 By Admin 2 Comments

Email we received (as well as some of the other investors)

    Dear xxxxxxxxx ,
    We are sorry for the delay in getting back to you, we have had issues with our servers which has now been fixed.
    In regards to your plot (s) managed by us under the Belem Sky Plantation, we are going to start payments to Title Trustees, this is for the phase 1 clients. Once Title Trustees have your funds, they will forward the payments to your account held on file.
    Please allow until next week to receive another update of dates when you will receive your rental payments.
    Regards
    Figueiredo

Few points we would like to point out though -
1- Servers they say. They are actually hosted on a ‘SHARED HOSTING’ ($20/mo approx) at GoDaddy. Not even a Dedicated Server, but then they’re not known to spend money to retain clients anyways.
2- There was no issue with the ‘servers’.  It’s the domain that they forgot to renew by paying $9 . It really is funny, NOT.
                                          Have a look -
belemsky
The domain expired in Dec. We notified them many times. Finally, this post got their attention and they renewed the domain on 16th Jan as mentioned above. They can’t pay $9 on time, and we expect them to pay our hundreds of thousands by end of this month ?
3- This letter guarantees that the published timing of ‘phase one’ clients being paid in January won’t be met.
4- While their server issue is consistent with the fact their site was unavailable for a few days, that should be irrelevant to their payment schedule.
5- Oh, and Bowers and Skeene stated that payments would be complete ‘by January’ in their newsletter last year.
The only thing you can believe is that you can’t believe what they say.

Filed Under: False Promises, Latest Updates, Tracking Skeene & Bowers
CSSF and GlobalGreenFCP.lu are in touch with SkeeneandBowersScam.com

January 22, 2014 By Admin 5 Comments
Many of us investors have contacted CSSF in Luxembourg concerning Andrew & Omari and their involvement with the Global Green Fund SIF. The CSSF are the regulatory body in Luxembourg where this fund is registered. We advised them of our concerns about Andrew & Omari, and the fact that they were being investigated by the SFO and we also sent them a link for skeeneandbowersscam.com

If the investors take the time to look at the 5 short videos on globalgreenfcp.lu showing the launch of their “green” funds in Monaco, Paris, Dubai and California they will see Andrew Skeene & Omari Bowers, Christian Haig, Robert Hoffmann & Lothar Rafalski in these videos or mentioned on the website as directors.
Their email addresses are:

    robert.hoffmann@loyensloeff.com
    rafalski@augurcapital.eu

We would hope that both the above gentleman are respected businessmen, and should be notified by as many unpaid investors in Andrew & Omari’s various schemes of what has been going on. I don’t know what you think, but we need to keep pounding them with our stories.
We also think it would be a good idea if other investors email Christiane Streef at the CSSF in Luxembourg with their various concerns about Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers to Christiane at cssf.lu  Her ph no is 352-26251451.

Filed Under: Latest Updates, Tracking Skeene & Bowers Tagged With: Andrew Skeene, belemsky, financial fraud, GFXI, Global Forestry, Omari Bowers
Tick-Tock Tick-Tock …….10 Days to GO ! Will Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers pay up as promised ?

January 21, 2014 By Admin 1 Comment

    Tick-Tock Tick-Tock
    I watch as the hand on the clock
    Goes round and round
    Speeding up
    And slowing down

    Tick-Tock Tick-Tock
    Commitments pass
    The investors adding one by one
    Adding ever so fast
    Each time the clock goes round it’s faster then the last

    Tick-Tock Tick-Tock
    When will this clock stop
    And stop this sense of dread
    When will my clock run dead
    and stop the tick-tock…..tick-tock…
    Going in my head…

ARE YOU LISTENING MR.ANDREW SKEENE AND MR.OMARI BOWERS ?

Or do we investors have to join hands and contemplate a class action lawsuit on Feb 1st?

Filed Under: False Promises, Latest Updates Tagged With: Andrew Skeene & Omari Bowers, Emerald Knight, GFXI, Global Forestry
Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers disappear for ages, then get back in touch and disappear again.

January 21, 2014 By Admin 1 Comment

We are trying to get in touch with as many investors effected by this scam and putting their stories online for you to view, judge and decide its merits. There are over 300 such investors, some of whom have lost their entire savings and were depending on S&B for their pension. We will keep on posting all such stories after verifying the facts.

___________________________________________________________

    Hi,

    We invested money with GFXI with a monthly return of 2%.

    I have called both their offices on what must be hundreds of occasions now and have never had a cal back for the office.  No one is ever available when I call.  The number I have for Omari Bowers is no longer available.  I have numerous e-mail correspondence promising payment schedules and payments.  Promised payment schedules don’t turn up, and promised payments don’t either.

    The last contact I had was promising payment this week.  Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers were supposed to contact me this afternoon with details of the payment amount and date as Andrew was with the accountants this morning.  However, true to form, no reply.

    They disappear for ages, then get back in touch and disappear again.  Are these guys regulated by anyone, what can we do about this as it has been gong on for far too long and to be honest we can’t continue any longer without the return of our investment.  Compensation has been mentioned by them, however it does not matter how much they offer as it seems they won’t pay it anyway.

    If there is a group action taking place what stage is this at?  Can you give me some details.

    Thanks

    Craig

___________________________________________________________

 

You can get in touch with this investor by email us at admin@skeeneandbowersscam.com . We will be happy to forward your message. Meanwhile, feel free to comment and discuss this story below.

 

Filed Under: False Promises, Tracking Skeene & Bowers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Andrew Skeene, Andrew Skeene & Omari Bowers, GFXI, Omari Bowers, Skeene and Bowers
Rather extraordinarily, Ecoquest plc is continuing to promote the Bowers and Skeene fraud

January 16, 2014 By Admin Leave a Comment

eq_leaf_outerglow

 

Talk about being uninformed, acting as if unaware, or perhaps incredibly blatant with no respect for law , EcoQuest investments CONTINUE to promote Skeene and Bowers Scam.

John Davies, the MD is aware that Skeene and Bowers have been referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) .

Their website http://www.ecoquest.org.uk/invest.html reads -

    Through Global Forestry Investments Ltd and Brazil Property Group Management LTDA we have committed to taking the beneficial ownership of over 300 hectares of Brazilian Teak Forestry. The project is known as Para Sky and is located in Municipio de Sao Francisco do Para, State of Para, Brazil.

    The headline investment returns are a fixed annual return of 8% plus additional revenue through thinning and the possibility of supplying Bio Mass to local energy suppliers. The minimum term of this investment is 4 years.

     

Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt this time. Perhaps they really are unaware. Being good citizen, we must INFORM them about the ‘alleged’ scam and investigations into Skeene and Bowers. Wouldn’t that be great ?

You can reach them at 020 7411 9007 or perhaps email them at info@ecoquest.org.uk . Needless to say, the information you sent MUST be corroborated with documentary evidence and facts. This way, we’re not committing anything illegal. Just doing our bit to ‘educate’ people.

 

Filed Under: Financial Fraud, Tracking Skeene & Bowers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Andrew Skeene, belemsky, Ecoquest, fraud, Omari Bowers, report fraud, scam
Customer portal for GFI BelemSky investors is no longer working

January 15, 2014 By Admin 2 Comments

Sadly, with just a few weeks to go till Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers’ commitment for payment expires , it now appears that the client portal for Belemsky / GFI is no longer working.

 

 

brazilpropertygroupmanagement.com

portal

 

 

ITS FOR SALE !!  hallelujah . So that’s how they plan to pay the investors with. What a brilliant plan.

Filed Under: Latest Updates Tagged With: belemsky, Emerald Knights, Global Forestry Investment
Skeene and Bowers’ offer to take down this website ?

January 15, 2014 By Admin 10 Comments

Below is an interesting message we received early this morning. A threat and an offer combined to BUY OUT this website. Now, I don’t know what Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers are thinking (and hoping), but neither are we stupid, not weak. And we certainly know the law, hence we must state that we cannot confirm if Skeene and Bowers (or any of their associates) actually sent us that message, or authorised someone to do it on their behalf. We are posting the message EXACTLY as we received it, along with the email address, timestamp and IP address mentioned.

 
SkeeneandBowersScamOffer

Offer Letter

 

Needless to say, we are posting this in public domain. You can suggest what our response should be. Maybe, you can email this ‘individual’ (whoever sent this message) directly at crammuk@hotmail.com and tell them your views.

pffftt..  £24000 , I hope its used to pay back some old lady’s investment who needs it most. Disgusting, if true.

Filed Under: Latest Updates Tagged With: Andrew Skeene & Omari Bowers, belemsky, Global Forestry Investment, Skeene and Bowers
GFI – Contact will be made by Teak management Companies this Week

January 14, 2014 By Admin 3 Comments

Message sent to us by a concerned and frustrated investor -

    Oh if only this were true;  what a wonderful start to 2014 that would be for those of us lucky enough to have received the GFI 'newsletter'.

    According to GFI Investors who haven't invested via SIPPs will be contacted before the end of this week by their respective management companies in Brazil. 

    Some people however haven't been contacted, even though they too didn't invest in SIPPs.  It may seem at first glance that it was 2010 to 2011 investors who have been contacted - but that's not the case either.  In actual fact, what it is is this:  those of us who are perceived as being a threat to Bowers and Skeene have been contacted with the hope that a misspelt 'newsletter' ( a coloured one page Word document),  addressed individually to the cherry-picked,  will be enough to make us stop our legal action and media action.

    Until we all get our returns or,   if applied for, in line with the original terms and conditions, our initial investment  delivered as agreed then there is no chance at all this will be sufficient to pall our actions.

    Julieadexter

Filed Under: False Promises, Uncategorized Tagged With: belemsky, GFI, Global Forestry, Global Forestry Investments
Sold by Emerald Knight – These guys are looking to scam your money

January 14, 2014 By Admin Leave a Comment

We are trying to get in touch with as many investors effected by this scam and putting their stories online for you to view, judge and decide its merits. There are over 300 such investors, some of whom have lost their entire savings and were depending on S&B for their pension. We will keep on posting all such stories after verifying the facts.

___________________________________________________________

    I invested 5K in GFI in 2011. I was sold this by Emerald Knight and told it was an ethical investment, offering 8% return.

    I received one years payment.

    Since 2012 and 2013 no payments have been received.

    All lies and false promises.

    These guys are looking to scam your money.

MZA Bakr
London

___________________________________________________________

 

You can get in touch with this investor by email us at admin@skeeneandbowersscam.com . We will be happy to forward your message. Meanwhile, feel free to comment and discuss this story below.

 

Filed Under: False Promises, Uncategorized Tagged With: bowers, Emerald Knight, Emerald Knights, financial fraud, fraud, GFXI, Global Forestry, Global Forestry Investment
GFI newsletter received on 10th Jan, 2014. More promises and lies

January 14, 2014 By Admin Leave a Comment

    Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxx,

    Happy New Year.  Since our last newsletter the directors have been to Brazil to ensure the returns are on track, while in Brazil we have had lengthy meetings with the management companies and the banks to ensure your returns are paid and to avoid any further delays.

    The management companies are now in the position to start distributing funds, The Belem sky plantation has 3 phases, the distributions will start from phase 1 and will run concurrently over 3 months i.e. Jan, Feb and March to completion.

    Typically speaking if you invested in 2010 – 2011 you will be under Phase 1, if you invested in 2012 you will be in phase 2 and 3.
    You will receive a further email directly from your management company outlining the date of your rental return next week.

    As mentioned in our last newsletter we are focusing all of our efforts in communicating with the management companies to ensure that the administrational complications that had played a part in causing the delays previously have been rectified and in doing so GFI will be sending out fortnightly updates regarding your returns keeping you abreast every step of the way.

    We understand and appreciate that the delay on your returns are not acceptable and we apologise for this, however your actual asset is doing extremely well and we hope GFI along with the management companies can regain your confidence once your returns are settled.

    Thank you for your patience’s in this matter and we look forward to sending you our next news letter informing you of upcoming exciting news for 2014.

    Kind Regards
    Global Forestry Investments

Filed Under: Documents and Evidence, False Promises, Latest Updates Tagged With: beware, bowers, Global Forestry, Global Forestry Investment, Global Forestry Investments, Positive Equity

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SKEENE AND BOWERS PROMISED TO PAY THE INVESTORS WHAT THEY OWE

    No dates present

We need your help

If you want to share your experience with Skeene and Bowers, please email us at admin@skeeneandbowersscam.com .

Any information you share will help expose this financial fraud and educate new potential investors.
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https://vlex.co.uk/vid/john-edmund-paylor-as-877084003


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John Edmund Paylor (as Trustee in Bankruptcy for Junie Omari Bowers) and Others v Junie Conrad Omari Bowers
Judgment
Cited authorities 14
Cited in
Precedent Map
RelatedVincent
Jurisdiction   England & Wales
Judge   Kramer
Judgment Date   18 February 2020
Neutral Citation   [2020] EWHC 3900 (Ch)
Docket Number   Case No: CR-2017-009616
Court   Chancery Division

[2020] EWHC 3900 (Ch)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

CHANCERY DIVISION

COMPANIES COURT

7 Rolls Building

Fetter Lane

London EC4A 1NL
Before:

HIS HONOUR JUDGE Kramer

(Sitting as a Judge of the High Court)

Case No: CR-2017-009616
Between:
John Edmund Paylor (As Trustee in Bankruptcy for Junie Omari Bowers) and Others
Claimants
and
(1) Junie Conrad Omari Bowers
(2) Andrew Nathaniel Skeene
(3) Michelle Louise Windebank and Others
Defendants

Mr Harty appeared on behalf of the Claimants

MR J BOWERS appeared in person

MR A SKEENE appeared in person

Mr B Gallop appeared on behalf of the SFO
Kramer
1

Judge This is an extemporary judgment and it is given after I have dealt with a judgment this morning refusing to adjourn the nine applications I have before me and having already given a judgment in relation to one of those applications which was to join the Serious Fraud Office into these proceedings as party, which I have refused for reasons given in my judgment at the time.
2

As regards the application to stay the proceedings generally, I have heard argument on and refused that application for which I gave brief reasons but said that I would give fuller reasons within my judgment. First, although this is somewhat repetitive given that I have covered some of this grounds in my earlier judgments, this is the substantial judgment which deals with the bulk of the other applications and therefore I give rather more background than I did when I dealt with the other applications.
3

Let us deal with the parties. The applicant, John Paylor, is the Trustee in Bankruptcy of Mr Bowers, one of the defendants, and Mr Skeene, another of the defendants. He is also the liquidator of Proximity Ventures Limited (“Proximity”) and brings the action in that capacity and also on behalf of the company. The applicant, Stephen Penn, is the liquidator of GFI Consultants Limited (“GFI”) and brings the action in that capacity and also on behalf of the company. They have been represented by Patrick Harty of Counsel. Junie Bowers and Andrew Skeene were each 50 per cent shareholders and Directors of Proximity and GFI. Michelle Windebank is the wife of Mr Bowers. Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene appear today to represent themselves, Ms Windebank although served has not taken part in today's application. Indeed, so far as there are applications by the defendants, they have been brought in the name of Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene only.
4

The evidence in this case is as follows. I have seen witness statements from Mr Junie Bowers dated 14 August 2019, 16 August 2019, 4 September 2019 and 17 December 2019 and then there was his additional statement from yesterday, or today, in support of the application to adjourn. In addition, there have been affidavits from Mr Paylor dated 23 August 2019 and 3 December 2019, a statement from Mr John Hughes, solicitor for Mr Paylor, dated 28 August 2019 and affidavits from Richard Stephen Penn dated 2 September 2019 and 9 December 2019. Also, Mr Hughes has made a second affidavit dated 26 September 2019 and I have read those affidavits.
5

There was also a witness statement from Ms Gleeson for the Serious Fraud Office which was provided in resistance to the application for the joinder of the Serious Fraud Office. I do not need to say much more about that since I refused joinder, although it did flush out one interesting fact in this case which possibly did not assist the defendants terribly as to the date upon which the SFO decided to charge the first and second defendants.
6

GFI was wound up by the High Court on 3 March 2014, Proximity on 15 October 2014 and Mr Paylor calculated that the deficit at the date of liquidation was £10,060,435.47. That was based on the proofs he has received. Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene were made bankrupt on 29 July 2014 and discharged on 4 January 2016.
7

On 18 December 2017 the claimants issues claims against the defendants seeking, amongst other relief, recovery of the £10,060,435.47. They alleged against Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene known participation in fraudulent trading, fraudulent breach of fiduciary duties, a dishonest assistance in such frauds, known receipt of fraudulently obtained money and conspiracy. The claim against Ms Windebank was in respect of a transaction at an under-value and for the known receipt of the illicitly obtained monies. In the this action, worldwide freezing orders have been made against the defendants which are still in force.
8

The skeleton arguments bear a large number of case numbers and it is as well that I just identify what they are. There is a Part 7 application, BL-2017-00641. That seems to have been issued when the original without notice freezing order was applied for. The proceedings themselves, that is to say the claim form and Particulars of Claim, carry the number CR-2017-009616, so the main proceedings are the 9616 proceedings and nothing further has been produced, such as orders, under the 641 number.
9

There are then four sets of insolvency applications. BR-2014-004985 is the insolvency proceedings affecting Mr Bowers and also his wife, Ms Windebank. CR-2013-009371 are the proceedings relating to the liquidation of GFI Consultants Limited. CR-2013-011296 are the proceedings relating to the liquidation of Proximity Ventures Limited and BR-2014-004995 is an application under section 366 of the Insolvency Act 1986 against Mr Skeene. So, there were five applications and cases going on in total. This has relevance later on.
10

The claim issued on 18 December 2017 was settled by deed of settlement and release dated 12 November 2018 which was subsequently varied by deed of variation on 18 April 2019. The claimants and defendants were all parties to these deeds. That includes Ms Windebank.
11

The original settlement agreement provided for the defendants to pay the applicants £6 million by instalments payments, upon payment of which they were to be discharged from any liabilities arising from the claims against them, the freezing orders to be discharged and given protection against claims which may have been brought against various family members and associated parties who were identified in the settlement agreement by type.
12

The agreement further provided for the defendants to give disclosure in relation to their assets to an independent solicitor jointly instructed by the parties who was to provide a report as to whether proper disclosure had been given. They also agreed that the decision of the independent solicitor would be final and binding as between them.
13

There were default provisions within the agreement which provided that if the defendants failed to pay the agreed sums when due or they were in default of their disclosure obligations they would consent to judgment being entered against them in the full sum of £10,060,435 less any sums that had already been paid and interest at an agreed rate. A draft of the order that was to be made was appended to the settlement agreement. It provided, apart from the judgment, for there to be costs of the application alone, so on judgment no costs of the action were to be recovered.
14

There was a carve-out for Ms Windebank in the original agreement in that her liability was to be released following payment of the first £1 million and confirmation from the independent solicitor that she complied with her disclosure obligations. Tomlin orders were entered into on 21, 22 November 2018 and 4 January 2019, that was two on the 21st, two on the 22nd and one on 4 January, staying the five proceedings which I have identified with liberty to apply to enforce.
15

The defendants made payments of £1.45 million under the original settlement agreement, whereafter the terms of payment were the subject of a deed of variation, so that instead of paying by instalments they were to repay the remaining £4.55 million by 31 July 2019 and the claimants were to be entitled to the documents lodged with the independent solicitor upon request, ie without default. The carve-out for Ms Windebank was removed. I shall refer in greater detail to the specific terms of the deed when this becomes relevant to the applications with which I have to deal.
16

It is unnecessary to set out the detail of the defendants' alleged behaviour which gave rise to the claim in view of the settlement. In essence, the claimants allege that Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene were operating a Ponzi scheme. The first which I shall refer to, and have referred to elsewhere as “the ForEx Scheme” operated from 2009 to 2012. They invited investors to subscribe to a fund which it was said...

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10922891/Fraudsters-ripped-investors-37m-Amazon-teak-farm-scam-saying-money-does-grow-trees.html

Two fraudsters who told investors that 'money does grow on trees' in £37m Amazon teak farm scam are jailed for 11 years for ripping off 2,000 families and pensioners

    Andrew Skeene and Omari Bowers conned investors in a fake plantation in Brazil
    They scammed £37m from people believing they were buying into a teak farm
    In an interview they boasted money grows on trees at their three teak tree farms
    The pair have both now been jailed for 11 years over the massive fraud scheme

By Matthew Lodge For Mailonline

Published: 11:35 GMT, 16 June 2022 | Updated: 12:22 GMT, 16 June 2022

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Two fraudsters who told investors that money does grow on trees and conned £37million have been jailed for 11 years each.   

Andrew Skeene, 44, and Omari Bowers, 45, claimed their hardwood plantations in Brazil would earn handsome returns and protect the Amazon rainforest.

The pair set up three teak tree farms, Belem Sky Plantation, Para Sky Plantation and Para Grosso Sky Plantation, and at the height of the scam their company, global Forestry Investments, had offices in Sao Paulo, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

But in reality the farms were making a loss, and the men were conning 2,000 families and pensioners out of their money, and living a life of luxury with the proceeds, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Omari Bowers (left) and Andrew Skeene (right), pictured here in a promotional video, scammed £37 million out of investors in a teak farm scam

They were convicted of three charges of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in the course of winding up a company by a jury last month following a seven-year investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, and have now been jailed for 11 years each.

In a promotional video filmed while the scam was ongoing Bowers boasted: ‘People say money does not grow on trees but it does, because each time a tree is thinned that is a tangible asset. It’s actually worth something.’

They promised their company, Global Forestry Investments, would build accommodation for their tree growers and a school and performing arts centre for their children.

Skeene stated: ‘I feel very strongly about the environment, and global change.

‘I believe we have a moral obligation to the next generation so they can inherit the planet which is sustainable and reliable just how we inherited from our parents and grandparents.’
The pair claimed their teak plantation would bring people significant returns on their investments (stock image)

The pair claimed their teak plantation would bring people significant returns on their investments (stock image)
Bowers (left) and Skeene (right), pictured here at a school in the Amazon rainforest in a promotional video, bragged to investors that money really does grow on trees

Bowers (left) and Skeene (right), pictured here at a school in the Amazon rainforest in a promotional video, bragged to investors that money really does grow on trees
What is teak wood?
A teak tree towers above the forest floor

A teak tree towers above the forest floor

Teak is a type of hardwood that is found in tropical environments such as south and southeast Asia.

Its natural properties - high tensile strength and high oil content - make it popular for uses that would expose it to the elements.

As a result it is used for purposes such as boat building, making exterior furniture, flooring and countertops.

While it is native to Asia, teak plantations have sprung up in South America, where the similar climate allows it to be cultivated.
Advertisement

The victim impact statements read out in court described the ‘mental anguish’ suffered by those who lost their life savings in the fraud.

One suffered ‘emotional and psychological harm’ after he lost £25,000 to the fraudsters and had to delay his retirement.

Another victim said: ‘I feel violated. I refuse to allow anyone into my house in fear of being duped again.’

Andrew Trollope, QC, defending father-of-four Bowers, said: ‘This case is a tragedy for them and will be a dreadful burden for them going forward.’

Judge Jeffrey Pegden told Skeene and Bowers: ‘You were both convicted by unanimous verdict of the jury. It has to be said you were convicted on the basis of compelling evidence.

‘Having heard the evidence in this case over many many weeks, I have no doubt that your schemes were fraudulent from mid 2012 at the latest.

‘In my judgement your culpability is high. You were the ones who lied.

‘You two devised, operated and controlled three Brazilian investment schemes between 2010 and 2015. Those schemes took in over £35 million and you lost most of the money.

‘The funds were received by you from investors. They were passed through complex companies.

‘You used nominees to conceal that you were the beneficiaries of the scheme... The investors believed they would get a safe and steady income but what you wrote or said were either false from the outset or became false and misleading.
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‘After the company went into liquidation you deliberately assisted in deceiving the authorities. You made determined efforts to prolong the frauds and obtain more investor money.

‘There were a very large number of victims, in total 1,800 different investors and three institutional investors that doubtlessly represent numerous individuals.

‘The frauds had a serious detrimental impact on the investors.
The pair, pictured here in a promotional video about their scheme, conned 2,000 victims as they enjoyed a luxury lifestyle

The pair, pictured here in a promotional video about their scheme, conned 2,000 victims as they enjoyed a luxury lifestyle

‘Some lost their life savings. Prolonged distress and mental anguish had been caused to a number of victims.’

Lisa Osofsky, director at the SFO, said: ‘Our international investigation exposed an intricate web of money transfers, forged documents and invented identities used to scam pensioners and savers out of their money under the false pretence of environmental protection.

‘The sentencing warns fraudsters that if they choose to play fast and loose with others’ hard-earned savings or pensions, we will pursue them and they will be held accountable for their crimes.

‘This is the first of seven cases we are taking to trial this year. Over the next six months we will prosecute a further 18 defendants for alleged fraud, valued at over £500 million.’

In addition to their jail terms Skeene, of Heathview Road, Croydon, south London, and Bowers, of Woolstone Road, Forest Hill, southeast London, were banned from being company directors for ten years.
London
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https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2022/06/15/fraudulent-duo-each-sentenced-to-11-years-imprisonment-after-successful-sfo-prosecution/



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You are here: SFO > News Releases > Fraudulent duo each sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after successful SFO prosecution
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Fraudulent duo each sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after successful SFO prosecution

15 June, 2022 | News Releases

Following the SFO’s successful investigation and prosecution, Andrew Nathaniel Skeene (44) and Junie Conrad Omari Bowers (45) were today sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to 11 years’ imprisonment.

When handing down the sentences, His Honour Judge Pegden QC said: “The investors believed that they were buying into an ethical investment scheme which would yield a safe and steady income. But the reality was that you wrote or said things about the schemes which were either false or misleading at the outset or became so, and you failed to correct them.”  The Judge highlighted the “serious detrimental impact” the schemes had on investors including some victims being prevented from retiring and suffering “prolonged distress and mental anguish”.

In May this year the SFO secured the convictions of Skeene and Bowers on three counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of misconduct in the course of winding up a company.

Mr Bowers and Mr Skeene were behind Global Forestry Investments, a fraudulent green investment scheme which scammed around 2,000 investors out of their savings and pensions.

The fraudulent duo encouraged victims to invest in three Brazilian teak tree plantations, claiming they were secure, well-managed, ethical investments that would help protect the Amazon rainforest and support local communities. In reality, little-to-nothing was happening on the ground and the pair enriched themselves with the finances they received.

During the schemes’ operation, Skeene and Bowers collectively withdrew around £750k in cash and spent a further £2 million on retail, luxury and entertainment. Mr Skeene also used investors’ money to fund his own lavish wedding and Mr Bowers bought a Bentley Continental GT.

The Judge commended the “exceptional investigatory work” of two SFO investigators, highlighting the “invaluable analysis” by Richard Middleditch of the extensive communications between the defendants and the meticulous money tracing exercise performed by Richard Mills MBE.

Lisa Osofsky, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said: “Today’s sentencing warns fraudsters that if they choose to play fast and loose with others’ hard-earned savings or pensions, we will pursue them and they will be held accountable for their crimes.

“This is the first of seven cases we are taking to trial this year. Over the next six months we will prosecute a further 18 defendants for alleged fraud, valued at over £500 million.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

    The Serious Fraud Office fights complex financial crime to deliver justice for victims and protect the UK’s reputation as a safe place to do business. We investigate and prosecute the most serious or complex cases of fraud, bribery and corruption.
    The SFO investigation into Global Forestry Investments was announced on 25 February 2015. For more details, see our case page and relevant press releases.
    Global Forestry Investments established three teak tree investment schemes in Brazil, known as Belem Sky Plantation, Para Sky Plantation and Para Grosso Sky Plantation.
    The Brazilian Ministério Público Federal provided extensive help to the SFO’s investigation pursuant to mutual legal assistance requests, including with interviews of various Brazilian witnesses across two trips the SFO team made to Brazil.
    The Judge imposed ten year director disqualification orders on Skeene and Bowers, to run concurrent to existing orders and expire in 2032.
    Confiscation proceedings will take place at a later date.

 

Press Office contact details:

news@sfo.gov.uk

07557009842
Related Cases

    Global Forestry Investments

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[stroborgan]

"The Judge imposed ten year director disqualification orders on Skeene and Bowers, to run concurrent to existing orders and expire in 2032."

How rediculous is that? 11 years in jail, but banned for 10. So in their last year in jail they can start the next frauds?

[stroborgan]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/megan-donnelly-1251b9116_fraudulent-duo-each-sentenced-to-11-years-activity-6950844266285817856-SMQ2

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Megan Donnelly

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DON’T MISS IT: Tune in to #ITVTonight at 2030 BST and go behind the scenes on the SFO’s most recent case.
 
On Tonight – Pensions: How to Save More, SFO Case Controller David Knott will be explaining how he and his team uncovered an intricate web of fraud which deceived around 2000 investors out of their life savings and pensions.

The two fraudsters behind the multimillion pound fake green investment scheme were sentenced last month to 11 years imprisonment each.
 
Andrew Nathaniel Skeene and Junie Conrad Omari Bowers were behind Global Forestry Investments, a scheme which encouraged victims to invest in 3 Brazilian teak tree plantations, claiming they were secure, well-managed, ethical investments that would help protect the Amazon rainforest and support local communities.
 
But in reality, Skeene and Bowers used investors’ savings to enrich themselves, withdrawing around £750,000 in cash, Bowers bought a Bentley Continental GT while Skeene even used the investors’ money to fund his own lavish wedding.

Ahead of Tonight’s programme, you can read more about the case here:

https://lnkd.in/eaDBjxab

#investigation #pension #fraud #greenfinance
Fraudulent duo each sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after successful SFO prosecution
Fraudulent duo each sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after successful SFO prosecution
sfo.gov.uk
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