A LAWYER has appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to face 38 charges involving the alleged criminal and fraudulent use of more than £100,000 of client money.

Centenier Shirley Madden said that 29 of the 38 offences were allegedly committed between 24 September 2008 and 25 November 2010.

• Those 29 allegations relating to the alleged use of specific client funds for purposes other than that for which they were originally intended.
• It is alleged that Mr Manning ‘criminally and fraudulently converted to his use and benefit’ various amounts of money.
• The amounts allegedly involved are said to range from £360 to £30,000.

There are further charges under the 2008 Money laundering (Jersey) Order alleging that Mr Manning failed to label transactions passing through his client account accurately

• It is also alleged that the firm K R Manning and Co and Mr Manning failed to comply with money laundering laws by not adopting or applying any internal policies or procedures designed to prevent and detect money laundering.
• It is further alleged that the company and Mr Manning foiled to maintain, keep and accurately account for client funds to the extent that no reconstruction of individual transactions could take place.
• He is also charged with failing to record balances of client accounts and failing to record transactions accurately, or at all

Other details

• The case against solicitor Kevin Robert Manning (52) of Don Street, will be sent to the Royal Court after Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris decided that the lower court did not have the power to deal with the alleged offences.
• Legal adviser Advocate Darry Robinson said that the total amount involved was in the region of £108,000, and submitted that Mr Harris should decline jurisdiction due to the nature and seriousness of the alleged offences.
• The case was adjourned until Thursday 11 January, and a formal committal hearing is scheduled to take place on 8 February.
• Mr Manning was granted bail on the condition that he remained at his Don Street address.