Rugby Road

Persistent property offender ordered to pay £146.5k

In a significant victory for Barking and Dagenham Council, a property owner and his company have been ordered to pay over £146,000 for persistent violations of planning regulations. 

In 2018, Mr Frank Kwabena Amoah purchased a property on Rugby Road, Dagenham through his business Transforming Lives Company Ltd.

The property had previously been sub-divided to form two maisonettes but the owner, having been served with an Enforcement Notice, reverted the property prior to the sale.

However, by September 2020, Planning Enforcement Officers discovered the property had been illegally sub-divided back into two self-contained units. Despite Mr. Amoah’s claims of purchasing the property as two units, the evidence was clear, and legal proceedings ensued.

Mr Amoah pleaded not guilty personally and on behalf of the company at Barkingside Magistrates Court on 27 September 2021, however the Magistrates convicted both and they were committed to Snaresbrook Crown Court for sentencing.

An appeal was put in by Mr Amoah but both convictions were upheld.

Amoah was arrested on 28 May 2024 after he twice failed to appear for sentencing and a warrant was issued.

The property owner finally attended Snaresbrook Crown Court where he was fined a nominal amount of £50 and a Proceeds of Crime Confiscation Order in the sum of £82,386.66 was made.  This is to be paid within three months with a sentence of 18 months imprisonment in default not paid.

Transforming Lives Company Ltd was fined £45,000.

In addition, costs totalling £19,146 were awarded to Barking and Dagenham Council.

The total fine imposed to Mr Amoah and Transforming Lives Company Ltd was £146,583.46.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: "This case demonstrates that despite many attempts to evade justice and prolong proceedings, close co-operation between the council’s Planning Enforcement and Financial Investigations Teams will eventually ensure that justice is seen to be done, and perpetrators will not be allowed to profit from their criminal behaviour."