Security director ordered to pay £95,000 as proceeds of his crime

On Monday [15th], at Woolwich Crown Court, ex-security director Aston Shim was ordered to pay £94,758 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to be paid within six months. If the order is defaulted the Court may impose a period of 18 months imprisonment.

Shim was the sole director of Samurai Security Limited, Macbean Street, Woolwich, London, which provided security to nine venues including a school and a local council. Neither Shim, nor the majority of his security guards held SIA licences to work in the private security industry.

In November 2013, at a prosecution brought by the SIA, Shim, pleaded guilty to being a director of a security company without a SIA licence, and for supplying unlicensed security guards. The court disqualified Shim from working as a company director for five years, gave him a 120 hour Community Order, and fined him £8000.

The SIA worked in partnership with the London Regional Asset Recovery Team in securing a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Woolwich Crown court for £94,758.

Nathan Salmon, Head of Investigation said:

“The confiscation ordered against Mr Shim means the financial gain he made in supplying unlicensed security guards will be removed from him. This has resulted in a closure of Mr Shim’s business and property obtained from the proceeds of crime.

“In running his business of 20 years, Shim made decisions not to comply with security industry regulations, which are in place to protect the public. Shim would not have been able to service his contracts without unlicensed operatives; a ruling during these proceedings means the total value of each contract is recoverable as criminal benefit where unlicensed operatives were used.

“It is important that the SIA pursues such matters. These prosecutions drive out poor industry practice, they ensure criminals do not benefit from their crime, and criminal funds are returned to the public purse.

“The SIA has worked in partnership with the London Regional Asset Recovery Team throughout the course of this investigation, we are grateful for their support.”