The Royal Courts of Justice,
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
BEFORE:
MR JUSTICE MOULD
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BETWEEN:
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
Applicant
- and -
(1) MR ANDREY POPETA
(2) MS YULIA LEVCHENKOVA
(3) MS VALERIYA POPETA
Respondents
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MR M EVANS KC (instructed by Crown Prosecution Service) appeared on behalf of the Applicant.
MR C DARRELL (instructed by Francis Wilks & Jones) appeared on behalf of the Respondent.
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JUDGMENT
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MR JUSTICE MOULD:
I shall state for the record that there is before the court an application to vary and extend the property freezing order granted by Dias J on 30 May 2025 and sealed on 3 June 2025.
The nature of the proposed extension is set out in the body of the application. Effectively, its purpose is twofold: firstly, to extend the duration of the order; and secondly, to add further property, in the form of real property and bank accounts, to the schedule of property at schedule C to the order.
I am satisfied that the variation and extension of the order is justified, subject to the substitution in place of the proposed extension of 12 months of an extension of six months to enable the applicant to continue with its investigation. There had been an issue as to whether one of the items of real property was recoverable property in the hands of the third respondent; that being a registered leasehold interest in a flat in Bermondsey, south-east London. However, I understand from Mr Martin Evans KC, who appears on behalf of the applicant today, that following discussions with Mr Clyde Darrell, who appears on behalf of the respondent, and disclosure of a further document, there is no longer any issue as to that point.
In those circumstances, I am satisfied that I should vary and extend the order made by Dias J and sealed on 3 June 2025. There will be an extension of six months to the duration of the order. The property shown in the application will be added to schedule C to the order.
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