§ Mr. VazTo ask the Attorney-General (1) how many members of the Serious Fraud Office are currently in Abu Dhabi;
(2) what steps were taken by the Serious Fraud Office to prevent those responsible for the fraud against BCCI leaving the United Kingdom;
(3) how many members of the Serious Fraud Office are currently in the United States of America in connection with the BCCI issue;
(4) when the Serious Fraud Office first became involved in the BCCI affair.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Serious Fraud Office first became aware from the Bank of England of concerns over BCCI on the 1 July 1991. On the 4 July 1991—the day prior to the appointment of provisional liquidators—it received relevant papers from the Bank of England with a view to investigation. No steps are available to the Serious Fraud Office to restrict the liberty of individuals wishing to leave the United Kingdom unless those persons have been charged with criminal offences. I am satisfied that no person has left the jurisdiction at a time when the Serious Fraud Office was in possession of evidence sufficient to justify the institution of proceedings.
It is the policy of the Serious Fraud Office not to disclose the deployment of operational staff involved in criminal investigation.