CHAWDA:MUSEUM OF LONDON CONNNED OUT OF £600,000

Two alleged money launderers today (Tues) denied plotting to process £600,000 stolen from a major museum.

Kukesh Chawda, 49, and Sonit Shringi, 31, are said to have legitimised money dishonestly obtained from the Museum of London.

The museum, located in the City of London, contains priceless artefacts telling the history of the capital from prehistoric times to the present day.

Chawda and Shringi are said to have laundered the £600,000 through a series of bank transfers and mobile phone purchases.

Both men appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court this afternoon for a plea and case management hearing.

They spoke to confirm their names and to enter not guilty pleas to the charges against them.

Paul Ward, 44, who faces the same charges as Chawda and Shringi but was not at today’s hearing, will appear at Southwark Crown Court on August 16 to enter his pleas.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith set a date of May 21 next year for their trial, which is expected to last for around five weeks.

Kukesh Chawda, of (Water’s Edge) Park Drive, Harrow Weald, and Sonit Shringi, of (53) Dean Drive, Stanmore, both northwest London, deny conspiracy to conceal, disguise, transfer or remove criminal property, and concealing, disguising, transferring or removing criminal property.

The charges date from between January 1, 2007 and January 7, 2009.

Ward, of (2) Oak View, Pottersly, Northants, is accused of the same counts.

ENDS