CPS decision and documents relating to Llanelli Wellness Village investigation

The request was refused by Crown Prosecution Service.

Dear Crown Prosecution Service,

In March 2021, following the submission of evidence and documentation by the Regional Organised Crime Unit (Tarian) into a proposed development in Carmarthenshire, the Llanelli Wellness Village, the CPS decided not to prosecute any of the suspects involved in the investigation.

Please could you provide
1. The reasons and rationale for the CPS decision
2. The evidence and documentation provided by the Regional Organised Crime Unit (or by an individual police force, if that was the case) to the CPS.

If you require further clarification concerning this request please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you,

Jacqui Thompson

Information Access Team, Crown Prosecution Service

Dear Ms Thompson

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request - Ref:- 9965

Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FOI) request which we received on 26 July 2021.

The FOI Act is a public disclosure regime, not a private regime. This means that any information disclosed under the FOI Act by definition becomes available to the wider public.

There is a 20 working day limit in which we are required to respond to requests.

The deadline for your request is 23 August 2021.

Yours sincerely

Information Access Team
020 3357 0788
[CPS request email]

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Information Access Team, Crown Prosecution Service

Dear Ms Thompson,

Further to our email below.

It would also be of assistance if you could provide us with as much information as possible regarding this case, including some or all of the following:

• The defendant’s full names and date of birth
• The Unique Reference Number (URN) of the case
• The nature of the offence
• The CPS area that handled the case

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Information Access Team
020 3357 0788
[CPS request email]

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Dear Information Access Team,

I am able to provide the following further information in relation to this case. I hope it will be helpful.

This was a police investigation into alleged fraud and bribery surrounding the tender, led by Carmarthenshire County Council, for a large development known as the Wellness Village, Llanelli. Several academics from Swansea University, and a company from Kent, Sterling Health, were also involved.

I understand that amongst several suspects under investigation were Mr Mark James, former chief executive of Carmarthenshire County Council, Professor Marc Clement, former academic at Swansea University, and Mr Franz Dickmann, a director of Sterling Health.

Eight search warrants were executed, including at the addresses above, and County Hall, Carmarthen on July 31st 2019. Several suspects, including the above, were interviewed by the police early in 2020.

TARIAN - the Regional Organised Crime Unit led the investigation. This is a multi-disciplinary team of Police officers and Police staff seconded from the three forces of Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and South Wales.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Corcoran, Head of Protective Services Wales gave the following statement following the CPS decision; “There was evidence of potential criminal offending identified and secured against individuals and companies subject to this enquiry and this was submitted as part of the file of evidence to the CPS who subsequently made their decision that it was not in the public interest to proceed with any prosecutions.”

I understand that the CPS Area would have been South Wales.

Yours sincerely,

Jacqui Thompson

Information Access Team, Crown Prosecution Service

2 Attachments

Dear Ms Thompson

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request

 

Please see the attached response to your Freedom of Information request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Access Team

020 3357 0788

[1][CPS request email]

 

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