Three company directors have been charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) following the collapse of a company which offered ethical investments in the rain forests of Costa Rica eight years ago.
Ethical Forestry Limited, which was based in Bournemouth, collapsed in 2015 owing millions of pounds to 3,500 British investors, many of whom lost their life savings or their pensions.
On Wednesday the SFO charged Stephen Greenaway, Paul Laver and Matthew Pickard with two counts each of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and one count each of fraudulent trading.
The trio are expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 28 but the trial will probably not take place until next year at the earliest, due to a backlog at Southwark Crown Court, the London court which deals with most financial crime….