An alleged scammer, wanted for fleecing one of the city's most respected judges out of millions of dollars, has been arrested by British police.
Kevin Slattery was arrested on February 16 after a request was made to British authorities. Mr Slattery is accused of cheating investors, including his father-in-law, the late High Court Justice Thomas Gall, of HK$21.8 million between 2001 and 2005.
Hong Kong's Department of Justice has confirmed that Mr Slattery is facing 14 charges of theft, one of forgery, 11 charges of evasion of liability by deception, one charge of false accounting and five counts of forgery.
A source close to the investigation said the charges stemmed from an alleged scheme run by Mr Slattery that was similar in nature to one carried out by Wall Street high-flier Bernard Madoff.
The source said it had been difficult for investigators because many of the people who lost money to Mr Slattery were well known, affluent and in positions of responsibility.
The prospect of making a statement to police and then being cross-examined in a public court of law about how they came to make such poor investment decisions had deterred a number of Mr Slattery's other victims from co-operating with the investigation, the source said.
A highly charismatic character, Mr Slattery had a reputation for spreading his cash around.
The late judge's son, Nick, said the family was relieved to hear of the arrest. 'Having lost a significant amount to him, my parents were the first to report the matter to [the police],' Mr Gall said.
'My father would be very pleased that the process of Mr Slattery's conviction has begun. It has been a very difficult few years for us given the harm and pain he has caused, not just to us, but to so many others.'
Mr Slattery had been a director and shareholder of the Henley Group, which offers independent financial advisory services.
However, he was dismissed as soon as the alleged scheme came to light.
Anthony Michell, managing director of Henley, said the firm took immediate steps to distance itself from Mr Slattery's activities.
'We removed him from the group and severed all ties,' Mr Michell said. 'Since Mr Slattery left Hong Kong in 2005, we have been working with the authorities very closely.
'However, the issues relating to the charges are very much to do only with his personal dealings.'
Mr Slattery, who is on bail pending extradition hearings, is due to appear in court in Britain on March 24.
