§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Attorney-General if he will investigate the conduct of the case against. Roger Levitt.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have investigated the conduct of the case against Mr. Levitt and I am satisfied that the prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office was fairly, properly and vigorously conducted.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Attorney-General if he will refer the case of Roger Levitt to the Court of Appeal.
740W
§ The Attorney-GeneralRulings of the trial judge in the course of the trial related to matters within his discretion and are not matters of law which can be referred to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972.
Sentencing is always a matter for the independent judiciary. The Attorney-General has power, under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to refer unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal in respect of offences which are triable exclusively on indictment. Fraudulent trading is an offence triable either on indictment or summarily and therefore, under the present law, sentences imposed for it cannot be referred to the Court of Appeal.