Senior Partner
Barrister-at-law
Abdullah is a barrister and is the Senior Partner at MPR. He is a senior barrister in dual practice and is also a member of a premier barristers chambers in London listed in the Legal 500. [ http://www.9-12bellyard.com/barristers/item/190-abdullah-al-yunusi ]
Abdullah specialises in criminal defence and brings a wealth of experience to the MPR team. He is an experienced trial advocate. Since being called to the Bar in 1994 he has developed his experience and practice in defending in serious and complex trials and has appeared in a number of high profile cases. Abdullah has extensive experience in allegations of serious fraud, money laundering murder and drug trafficking. He has particular experience in MTIC frauds, VAT & Tax frauds, Advance Fee frauds and all aspects of confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
He has represented many company directors in connection with allegations of fraudulent trading and regulatory infringements. Abdullah also advises Money Service Buisnesses and other Financial Institutions on anti-money laundering provisions and legislation in order for them to implement compliance procedures. He also represents directors of companies charged with money laundering offences.
Abdullah is one of a handful of barristers in the country who is also a partner in a law firm. He joined MPR Solicitors in 2010 when changes in the regulations meant that barristers were allowed to become partners in law firms. Abdullah recognised this change as a way in which he would be able to offer a greater level of client care and be able to to influence early preparation in a case which is crucial in determining a favourable outcome. He is able to prepare his cases from an early stage in a way in which other barristers are not able to do. He is also able to offer early access to clients which can mean more thorough and focused preparation leading to improved prospects of success.
http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/barristers-slow-to-join-ldps
He is regularly instructed in appellate matters in the Court of Appeal.
Abdullah also regularly appears as Leading Counsel in more complex cases.
Memberships: Inner Temple; Criminal Bar Association; Amnesty
Languages: Bengali
Email: abdullah@mprsolicitors.co.uk
Examples of Abdullah’s recent cases of interest:
Fraud
R v H: Operation Smarten- Leading Junior for the first defendant in a £125 million money laundering case involving complex analysis of international banking systems; hawala; US and EU trade sanctions and MSB operations & compliance
R v. PS Software and others: Leading junior in major Microsoft trademark infringement case
R v. S and others: Leading junior in a large-scale credit card cloning fraud
R v. SI and others: Missing trader intra-community (MTIC) fraud and money laundering – value over £100 million [Operation Capri]
R v. Z Ltd: Offences under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. An investment fraud deceiving over 200 investors in buy to let property schemes and subsequent mortgage frauds
R v. F and others: Missing trader intra-community (MTIC) fraud and money laundering – value over £200 million [Operation Devout]
R v. KZ and others: Series of cases involving VAT fraud (£150 million) and largest corruption case to date involving Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs officers. A protected jury case. [Operation Bradford; Operation Mamba]
R v. CY and others: Banking fraud involving a multi-million pound fraud on the clearing banks
R v. GZ and others: Money laundering proceeds of Columbian cartels through a number of money service bureaux [Operation Cherbule]
R v. HZ: Money laundering by a director of a money service bureau involving in excess of £25 million
MHRA v. BRR Pharma: Major prosecution by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA) in relation to production, importation and distribution of counterfeit medicines
R v. TY others: Farming fraud involving EU funds
R v. HZ: Long firm fraud by a company director involving several of his companies
R v. O and others: Leading junior in a missing trader fraud
R v. BG: NHS fraud involving a head of department diverting hospital finances over a seven-year period
R v. LY and others: Fraud involving Conservative Party funds
R v. AI and others: Large social security fraud involving false and stolen identitiesR v D & ors: Case involved largest seizure of class A drugs in the North of England. Acting for director of Bureau de change charged with laundering millions of pounds of drug money through his businesses
Homicide
R v D: Acting for Youth charged with Murder emanating out of the Ealing Riots
R v. WS: Triple murder of ‘Stars in Your Eyes’ contestant and her family
R v. J: False confession case involving issues of entrapment and unlawful covert operations
R v. M: contract killing of adulterous husband
R v. BG: Baby shaking case
R v. DS: Gangland violence. One of the guideline cases on the interpretation of the sentencing provisions under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 section 269 and schedule 21
R v. BL; R v. W; R v. G: Mental health issue cases – diminished responsibility
R v. BD: Cumulative provocation issues
R v. HL; R v. M: Cases involving youths charged with murder
R v. N: A road rage killing
R v. S and others; R v. C and others; R v. W and others: Gangland violence cases
R v. M: A case involving a love triangle killing
Drugs
R v. IK and others: Leading junior in a massive conspiracy involving the importation and supply of over 100 million pounds worth of cocaine (Operation Eaglewood)
R v. HT: Leading junior in a drugs conspiracy involving importations of lorry loads of drugs
R v. MD and others: Large-scale importations of cocaine and heroin
R v. SM and others: Large-scale cocaine importation involving corrupt security services officers
R v. SD and others: Large-scale importations of heroin involving corrupt British Airways baggage handlers at Heathrow airport
R v. SO and others: Major importation production and distribution of drugs in UK
Other Cases
R v. SD and others: Leading junior in a case involving large-scale transcontinental people trafficking into the EU and subsequent bonded labour
R v. BA and others: Leading junior in one of the largest human smuggling investigations in the UK, involving corrupt officials at Heathrow airport and Virgin Atlantic Airways [Operation Outreach]
R v. WN: Supply of arms. This case involved one of the largest illegal arms factories to be discovered in the UK
R v. AF and others: Conspiracy to cause explosions – (nail-bombings)
R v. WX: Series of nationwide armed robberies
R v. TH and others: Series of armed robberies involving fundraising for Tamil Tigers
R v. P and others: Large-scale importations of cigarettes
R v. IQ and others: A case involving kidnap and torture of a rival gang member
Reported Cases:
Attorney General’s Reference (No 43 of 2009) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division): Guideline case on serious firearms offences. Updates R v Avis. Guidelines on discretionary life imprisonment and imprisonment for public protection
R v Jones (2005) EWCA: Guideline case on sentencing in murder cases and setting of minimum terms
R v Barnard (2005) EWCA Crim 268; (2005) 2 Cr App R (S) 81: Guidelines on Manslaughter/ Provocation
R v Ahmed (2003) EWCA Crim 3627: Case concerning exclusion of police interviews
R v Pegg (2003) EWCA Crim 2262: sentencing in dangerous driving cases
R v Adu Yeboah (2002) EWCA Crim 2852: Sentencing in cases of possession with intent to supply class A drugs
R v Simmonds (2001) EWCA Crim 167; 2001 2 Crim App R (S) 70; (2001) MHLR 45; (2001) Crim LR 326: Guideline case on sentences of life imprisonment where mental health issues
