Law firm denies money-laundering allegations

Chairman Jonathan Schlosberg told E-Brief News yesterday: ‘We generally do not comment on the affairs of clients or former clients. However, as the article impugns the integrity of Bowman Gilfillan, I need to reply. I strongly deny the money-laundering allegations.’ Schlosberg was reacting to a report on the Moneyweb site, which says that in his complaint, Bam provides a copy of a letter dated 11 May 2006 by Bowman partner James McKinnel and addressed to Bam\'s attorney, Daan Ribbens. According to the report, the letter offers R9.9m to Bam on behalf of J Arthur W Brown. In a later affidavit, McKinnel states Bowman received the R9.9m by way of electronic funds transfer from the ‘Brown Family Investment Trust’. Bam refused the R9.9m, which was offered to him by Brown in an attempt to conclude a share-sale agreement. Bam\'s attorney responded to McKinnel, stating that the Brown Family Investment Trust had submitted no tax returns to the Receiver of Revenue. He said this ‘as well as the mere size of the proposed transaction, raise questions and necessitate diligent and careful consideration’. The report points out that under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, attorneys are required to report suspicious and unusual transactions to the authorities. In his complaint to the Law Society, Bam alleges that Bowman did not comply with legislation and helped ‘sanitise’ Brown\'s money by investing it with Investec on his behalf. Full Moneyweb report