On the go: An accountant is to appear in court charged with fraud and making employer-related investments.
Roger Bessent is accused of abusing his position as the director of Gleeson Bessent Trustees to transfer more than £200,000 of pension scheme funds into his bank account and those of businesses controlled by him.
The funds were transferred from the Focusplay Retirement Benefit Scheme – the sponsoring employer of which was Gleeson Bessent (Accountants and Business Advisers) where Bessent was a director.
Bessent faces five counts of fraud by abuse of position and five counts of making employer-related investments.
Fraud by abuse of position is an offence under Section 1(2)(c) of the Fraud Act 2006. It carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Making a prohibited employer-related investment is an offence under Section 40(5) of the Pensions Act 1995. It carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.
Bessent has been summonsed to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 30 January 2019.
This is the first time the Pensions Regulator has prosecuted for these offences.
