Those who partake in criminal activity to gain monetary funds do not always come to that point on the basis of greed; many are driven there by a desire to maintain a standard of living that they have become accustomed to.

There is no excuse for illegal activity, but you should only be made to pay back what you have taken. However, assessing how much a defendant has earned through proceeds of crime is not an easy task and requires thorough research, such as the work conducted by Frenkels Forensics.

Let’s take the example of a practice manager at a doctor’s surgery that stole thousands of pounds from her GP partners to fund a lavish lifestyle, as was reported in the Blackpool Gazette recently.

The task of a forensic accountant in a situation such as this is to figure out when a payment is a business one and when it is a personal one. Coming to a clear conclusion requires a thorough investigation of what falls under normal business practices and what doesn’t.

In terms of a doctor’s surgery, money spent on first class flights and top hotels do not generally fall within the remit of the usual expenses associated with the job and so this investigation ran relatively smoothly…

Yet while in this case deciphering the criminal activity proved an easy task, Frenkels Forensics are often instructed on behalf of defendants to put together a clear, concise and well researched report of their assets and isolate what is and what isn’t a proceed of crime.

For expert help in a criminal case involving proceeds of crime or any other type financial dispute contact Frenkels Forensics for an independent appraisal.

We can help assist individuals, companies, lawyers, barristers and accountants in conducting a full investigation into accounts to ensure a fair settlement for the prosecution or defendant.

If you’re looking for advice on any aspect of forensic accountancy, then do get in touch via Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn or by visiting our website www.frenkels.com

By Vitek Frenkel – find me via Google+.