The Times confirmed on 24th August that Mr Wu (the owner Of Udney Park playing fields) has been arrested in Japan. The same article reported on his multiple identities and involvement in international crime.
This begs the question as to how Mr Wu passed all his due diligence around money laundering and identity checks when purchasing the fields in the first place
Rob Pollock of Savills, the estate agents who sold the fields on behalf of Quantum/ AHH has provided this comment-
‘’Savills undertook the due diligence and compliance checks required at the time. The vendor's solicitors also carried out their own checks. At the time of the transaction, neither the purchasing entity nor the identified beneficial owner was designated pursuant to the UK financial sanctions regime or otherwise identified as a concern by the relevant UK authorities. ’’
Nick Pargeter of BDB Pitman (now rebranded as Broadfield) were the solicitors who represented Mr Wu. His comment is -
‘’A firm of solicitors is obliged to do due diligence on the identity of its clients.
But I’m not going to comment on any specific matter or client.’’
Stuart Thomson of CWE Communications, and Edwin Coe Solicitors, who have both represented Mr Wu in his efforts to sell the site, have offered no comment.
Of course none of this helps to take things forward.
The Udney Park Community Fields Foundation has therefore written to LBRUT requesting that they move forward with a CPO of the land - see attached link showing an abbreviated version. Further meetings are scheduled with LBRUT councillors and officers to find a collaborative solution
Separately, the Foundation has met with Munira Wilson, who is seeking to apply political pressure to break the impasse.
The Udney Park Community Fields Foundation have taken a keen interest in the status of Mr Wu due to his ownership of important community playing fields in the London Borough of Richmond on Thames. He purchased these fields via a company registered in the British Virgin Islands called Leisure Focus.
Further news has emerged in the Times about whether Mr Wu is a fit custodian for Udney Park.
Local MP, Munira Wilson, gave an impassioned speech emphasising the importance of retaining playing fields for community use rather than allowing them to be land banked by developers.
