An Essex-based security company went into receivership after an investigation by the Security Industry Authority led to customers leaving the security company.
In September 2012, George Malekos, 42, was the director of Shadow Facilities Management Limited (Shadow) during the SIA investigation.
Following a pre-Olympic operation conducted by the Metropolitan Police, SIA investigators were alerted that an unlicensed door supervisor, supplied by Shadow, was found working at a pub in south London.
Subsequently, SIA investigators made several requests for information from Malekos, however, very little material was supplied. Malekos claimed that a flood at his office had caused damage to the company’s records.
He was later interviewed at a police station where he maintained that his company had not supplied any unlicensed staff and that he had provided as much information as he could.
On Monday [24 February], at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London, Malekos pleaded guilty to failing to provide information to the SIA. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,200.
His company pleaded guilty to one count of supplying an unlicensed door supervisor and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100.
In mitigation, defence counsel for Malekos explained “as a result of these proceedings, customers left Shadow and the company has subsequently gone into administration; the business crumbled”.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon, said: “Due to the denial of Mr Malekos, this prosecution has taken significant time to progress through the courts.
“Despite this, the actions of the defendant have resulted in him and his company being convicted of significant offences which may ultimately mean he is prevented from holding an SIA licence and working in the security industry.
“This case demonstrates that the SIA works closely with partner agencies, in this case the Metropolitan Police, to bring prosecutions against companies and individuals who contravene the legislation and who fail or refuse to engage with us.
“We will continue to work in this way to ensure that all those working in the industry, companies and individuals, are doing so legally.”