Two solicitors have today appeared at City of London Magistrates Court after being charged with offences in connection with a series of high value commercial mortgage frauds.

Mark Knights of Cheshire and Kamran Malik of Birmingham are charged with three counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception contrary to section 15A (1) Theft Act 1968. The proceedings are to be transferred to Southwark Crown Court.

These proceedings relate to the same investigation where six individuals were charged with in connection with the same offences in December 2009. The case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office by West Midlands Police.

At the relevant time Mark Knights was employed at Mace & Jones Solicitors, Manchester, while Kamran Malik was a partner in A&H Solicitors, Birmingham.

Neither of the defendants is currently employed by Mace & Jones Solicitors and A&H Solicitors.