Richard Wells and Neil Debenham were charged with conspiracy to defraud after the collapse of Safe Hands Plans Ltd. The pre-paid funeral firm's failure impacted approximately 46,000 customers. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced the charges.
Safe Hands Plans Ltd went into administration in 2022. Thousands of customers lost money they had invested in funeral plans. Wells was a former director of SHP Capital Holdings Ltd, Safe Hands' parent company. Debenham was described as a senior executive.
The SFO called the charges a "critical step" in its investigation. Emma Luxton, SFO Director of Operations, stated planholders were left "exposed, out of pocket and uncertain."
Pre-paid funeral plans allow individuals to pay for their funerals in advance. This is intended to ease the financial burden on their families after they die. Regulation of pre-paid funeral plans came into effect in July 2022.
Wells and Debenham will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 5. The SFO investigation continues.
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