Police seize £200k from property linked to bailed Liverpool developer
Police have seized £200,000 from a property linked to a Liverpool developer arrested last month on suspicion of bribery and corruption.
The money was found during a search of a property belonging to Elliot Lawless, boss of the Elliot Group which is involved in 20 developments across the North West worth around £1bn.
Merseyside Police was granted permission to withhold the money at a Liverpool Magistrates’ Court hearing.
Mr Lawless said he can prove the cash was held legitimately and receipted, and expects it to be returned.
In a statement released to the Liverool ECHO, he said: “At a recent court hearing it was set out that a large sum of money was seized from one of my properties.
“This money was from various cash businesses that I operate as well as bank deposits and was receipted and properly accounted for.
“I’ve provided the necessary details to the police and fully expect it to be returned in due course once police finish their inquiries.
“I do not propose to comment further on the investigation at this stage.”
Mr Lawless, 32, was arrested on December 18, 2019, at his Liverpool city centre flat on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, bribery and corruption.
The same day, Nick Kavanagh, 50, Liverpool City Council’s director of regeneration, was arrested in his office on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in a public office.
Both men were were released on conditional bail after questioning.
At the time Mr Lawless described the allegations as “completely baseless”, adding: “It is important that I clear my good name quickly and that we move on from this.”
On Monday this week it was announced that Liverpool-based property firm Vermont had agreed to suspend work on two projects it is currently delivering in the city for the Elliot Group.
They are Aura, a £100m student scheme on the edge of the city’s Knowledge Quarter which was due to complete in September 2020, and phase one of the £250m Infinity scheme on Leeds Street – a 38-storey, residential tower with 416 apartments, scheduled to be handed over in December 2021.
Vermont is in talks with its supply chain to reassure all subcontractors that payment of all works to date will be met.
All of Vermont Group’s other projects are unaffected by this decision and all operations continue as normal.
Work remains ongoing at all other live Elliot Group sites.
