Cryptoassests
Roger Sahota has been instructed in some of the largest ever domestic and international crypto asset criminal prosecutions and investigations. Roger’s experience means he is one of the country's leading experts in this field. He regularly advises on crypto-related investigatory measures such as search warrants, restraint orders, asset detention applications, forfeiture, and disclosure applications, as well as Part V recovery proceedings. Recent case include:
R v Yadi Zhang - Representing defendant in criminal proceedings following largest ever BTC seizure of est. 60,000BTC valued at approx. £3billion as of April 2024 . Advised on challenging search warrants, restraint, asset detention applications, forfeiture, disclosure and criminal investigation and prosecution. The cryptoassets seized include one of the worlds ten largest bitcoin wallets.
Terraform Labs, Korea - advising CFO of Terraform Labs and co-defendant of Do Kwon, in respect of an Interpol Red Notice issued by South Korea following the collapse of the crashed stablecoin TerraUSD and cryptocurrency Luna.
B and C - Advising HNW individuals with substantial crypto asset holdings on regulatory and criminal exposure and risk.
X - advising client in FBI/DOJ investigation and freezing order re BTC transactions on Binance platform.
R v Ali - representing defendant in large scale BTC related fraud in UK. Advise on restraint and disclosure orders regarding BTC holdings and in criminal investigation and prosecution.
International
Prosecutor v Prlic & Others – one of the signature cases at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”) - trial of six senior officials in Croat administration of Herceg-Bosna. Roger acted as Defence Counsel for Berislav Pusic in a six year trial ending in 2013 and the subsequent appeal concluding at a hearing November 2017 with the passing of co—Defendant Slobodan Praljak after drinking poison,
Prosecutor v President Charles Taylor – trial of Liberian leader in UN Tribunal Special Court for Sierra Leone. Defence Co-counsel for President Taylor.
Mikheil Saakashvili – advising the former President of Georgia and Governor of Odessa on the legality of his expulsion from Ukraine (with Geoffrey Robertson QC)
Prosecutor v Karazdic – member of amicus team filing appeal v application of Joint Criminal Enterprise theory in proceedings before the ICTY.
Sanchez Sanchez v United Kingdom - first case featuring UK to be heard by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights since Brexit and leading ECHR decision on extradition to the USA. Roger successfully obtained emergency Rule 39 Relief from the ECHR barring imminent removal to the USA.
Senior Iraqi Politician – advised in cross border blackmail and extortion allegations.
Horne v United Kingdom and Balahan v Sweden - Representing Accused in two appeals against extradition to the United States before the European Court of Human Rights.
Sanctions - advising businessman accused of illegal armament trading seeking removal from UK sanctions list.
Diplomatic Immunity - post charge advice and written submissions in intervention for US Marshall prosecuted in UK for unlawful conduct on airplane - prosecution withdrawn (2024).
Interpol
HNW Client - representing HNW Chinese businessman - securing deletion of Interpol Red Notice on fraud related charges.
HNW Consortium - representing group of HNW businessmen in South East Asia in a joint application to delete Interpol Red Notices.
X - Advising client on application to delete Red Notices from Jordan
Y - Red Notice from India deleted
Luke de Pulford - preventative application to Interpol warning against abusive Red Notice in respect of high profile China activist.
Advice on many other Interpol Red Notice Cases
Financial Crime
FCA v Korfuzi - Representing co-defendant in FCA insider trading prosecution, ongoing with 6 week trial scheduled for 2025.
SFO v Gerald Smith – UK’s largest ever confiscation order, parallel commercial court proceedings concerning disposal of assets following sale of Hyde park hotel portfolio and related commercial court and POCA proceedings.
NCA v F – representing son of Moldovan Prime Minister in one of the first UK Account Freezing Order Applications
Metropolitan Police v E - securing return and discharge of Account Freezing Order and unfreezing of accounts holding £1million.
HM – Businessman, securing return of £400,000 cash seized by police in contested cash seizure proceedings FF.
Successfully representing law firm in quashing search warrant in Divisional Court JR proceedings.
GM - Successfully representing documentary filmmaker in challenging illegal police search of home and securing return of property.
T – Businessmen accused in ongoing police financial crime investigation – securing return of £200,000 cash seized by police in contested cash seizure proceedings and quashing search warrants - CPS decide not to prosecute.
S - Businessmen in boiler room investigation – successfully challenging legality of search warrant - no prosecution.
JS - Police people smuggling investigation – successfully challenging legality of search warrant - CPS decide not to prosecute.
Extradition
USA v S – Representing alleged Mexican Cartel leader in USA extradition request re charges of murder and importing heroin
Govt of India v A – successfully representing Indian businessman in defeating extradition proceedings
Govt of India v L– successfully representing Indian accountant in defeating extradition proceedings
Germany v R – HNW businessman request for extradition on basis of organising tax avoidance scheme
USA v R - representing accused challenging extradition to USA in in wire fraud prosecution
HNW Music Industry Promoter – intervention defeating mutual legal assistance request and averting potential extradition
Reputation Management
Senior Member of Middle Eastern Royal Family – pre-charge intervention averting criminal prosecution
Dr M - Plastic Surgeon acquitted of racially aggravated assault following crown court trial
B - Senior aide to Russian billionaire - pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in assault case
R, Chartered Accountant – pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in assault case
H, Chartered Accountant – pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in assault case
H, Businessman – post-charge intervention resulting in CPS decision to discontinue private prosecution for conspiracy to commit fraud
R v I – Attempted Murder, gang related allegation, all charges dropped pre-trial
R v JD - representing anaesthetist charged with stealing drugs from hospital in high profile prosecution.
Sexual Assault Allegations
Ultra HNW CEO of international property developers - pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in sexual assault case
HNW Monaco based businessman – pre-charge advice in sexual assault allegation, no criminal prosecution ensued
HNW CEO of financial company - pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in sexual assault case
Rev C - pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in historic sexual assault case against member of clergy
C – advising former military officer in in historic sexual assault allegation with national media coverage
Dr P - representing GP accused of multiple sexual assaults on patients in 3 month trial
R v W – Defending former public school teacher in historic sexual assault allegation
R v P - Medical student - conviction averted after hung jury at trial in 2022
R v D - Businessman - acquitted of rape after jury trial in 2023
R v T I- T professional - charges of sexual assault dismissed in Crown Court 2023
Cyber Crime
HNW Businessman - post-charge intervention persuading CPS to drop charges in cyber- crime prosecution
R v A and R v H - Two separate recent cases representing IT professionals accused of Computer Misuse Act offences
R v A, Senior Academic, pre-charge intervention averting prosecution in indecent images investigation
R v P - Businessman, pre- charge intervention resulting in charges being discontinued in indecent images investigation
R v I IT professional, pre- charge intervention resulting in charges being discontinued in indecent images investigation
R v J, X, V - three separate cases in 2023 where charges dropped after defence submissions in Crown Court prosecution for indecent images