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Former biodiesel trader charged with fraud and money laundering concerning the sustainable fuel sector

25 February, 2021 | News Releases

The SFO has charged biodiesel trader Gianni Rivera with fraud and money laundering in connection with its investigation concerning the sustainable fuel sector.

Rivera, a former employee of Greenergy, is charged by the SFO with two counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of money laundering. The central allegation is that, while agreeing trades between Greenergy Fuels Limited and a Dutch trading partner, Biodiesel Kampen BV, he received payments from the director of that company, Cornelis Bunschoten. On a number of occasions, a portion of the monies he received was transferred back to companies linked to Bunschoten.

The SFO opened its investigation into certain aspects of biodiesel trading at Greenergy and various third parties in December 2018. The company is no longer a suspect in the investigation.

Gianni Rivera appeared by video link today, Thursday 25 February 2021, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

As this is an active case, the SFO can provide no further comment.

Notes to editors:

  1. Gianni Rivera (born 1983), a former biodiesel trader at Greenergy, is charged with two counts of fraud, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006, and one count of being concerned in an arrangement which facilitated the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by another, contrary to section 328(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
  2. The SFO opened its Greenergy investigation on 17 December 2018 and announced the investigation on 16 May 2019. This is a joint investigation with the Dutch authorities.
  3. These are active proceedings and the strict liability rule in the Contempt of Court Act 1981 applies.

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