17 March 2019
NGO Global Witness at an event in Parliament, launched new data analysis detailing the number of anonymously owned properties in the UK. Around 57,000 properties across the UK are owned by companies incorporated in UK tax havens. This includes over 10,000 in the London Borough of Westminster, almost 6,000 in Kensington and Chelsea and over 2,000 in Camden.
Global Witness used the event to launch their Secret neighbourhoods, which shows how many anonymously owned properties there are in the London borough or in England and Wales.
In 2015, David Cameron promised to introduce a property register detailing the ownership of UK property. The Government has now said this will not be in place until after 2020. Global Witness reported.
Britain’s home secretary has ordered the extradition of Vijay Mallya, the Indian multimillionaire chairman of Kingfisher beer and former Force India Formula One team owner, over allegations of fraud. He lives in a mansion worth 11.5 million pounds.
Another Indian fugitive and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim living in exile in Pakistan is reported to own about 15 properties in prime locations in the United Kingdom, Zee News reported.
Absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, is reportedly living in a £2.3 million plush flat in London’s exclusive Mayfair locality. The Print reported.
