FSB Scandal by HTDBS - Investigation of Fraud Allegations

FSB Directors Act As Judge And Jury In Their Own Interests

The fact that the investigation is reported to have found no cause for concern in the face of irrefutable facts, suggests an 'establishment' cover-up.

The investigators, Elwyn Burch and Brendan Burns (pictured) , did not interview any of the seven FSB members whose letter of concerns and determined action, forced the 'FSB Executive Board' to investigate the matter. In fact, Elwyn Burch was blatanly deceitful in his written communications with one of the complainants. (Pleas also see note below about 'FSB Executive Board').

In a letter dated 1 September 2000 to Birmingham complainant, Hubert Taylor, Elwyn Burch wrote,

"	Dear Mr Taylor, Unfortunately, neither Brendan Burns nor I will be able to attend the meeting proposed for Thursday 2nd September to discuss the above matter."

In his second and final paragraph of the letter Elwyn Burch wrote,

"
I shall be speaking with Brendan over the weekend and will try to re-schedule the meeting for a suitable date in the not too distant future."

On 3 September 2000 the minutes of a meeting of the 'FSB Executive Board' reports on the Burch and Burns investigation, as follows,

"
Mr Burch reported that he and Mr Burns had visited the Staffs and West Midlands former regional office that morning as part of the on-going investigation. They considered the investigation was now complete and the board requested a formal written report for the next meeting that addressed all matters raised in the letter signed by six members of the region."

The 'FSB Executive Board', which is responsible for day-to-day management of FSB affairs, thus acted accused, as investigators, as 'judge', and as 'jurors', in their own cause. Not surprisingly, they found 'no fault' after a dubious investigation.

To this date, the serious written questions posed by seven FSB in their letter dated 23 November 1998, still remain unanswered!

One of the investigators, Elwyn Burch, was a member of the 'FSB Executive Board' and also a member of the FSB Treasury Committee. Elwyn Burch was thus appointed to 'investigate' what was in effect a decision endorsed by two committee's of which he was a member.

The other investigator, Brendan Burch was a director and member of the 'FSB Executive Board'

Note About 'FSB Executive Board'

The 'FSB Executive Board' is comprised of a small band of people who have usurped the position and authority of FSB directors. Over time that 'rump of directors' have engineered constitutional amendments to install themselves as a self-pertuating oligarchy.

Note of 'Contempt of FSB Processess By Director'

On 15 September 1999, prior to the investigators' written report being received and approved by the 'FSB Executive Board', director and 'FSB Executive Board' member, John Emmins declared the results of the investigations at an FSB Staffs and West Midlands regional committee meeting.

The impression given and taken from the proceedings is that possibly, the investigation and its collective approval by the 'FSB Executive Board', were an irrelevance to John Emmins.

It also appears that fair and proper conduct of the investigation was not of serious concern to a majority of the FSB directors involved.

If the impression taken is correct, who are puppets, and who pull what appear to be wholly illicit strings?

Questions Begging Answers

Why did the investigators not interview the complainants who wrote the letter of financial concerns?

In view of the reluctance of FSB directors - the National Council and the Executive Board - to fairly and openly investigate members' concerns about fraud, and the 'superficial nature' of the audit commissioned by our present directors, is an INDEPENDENT INQUIRY and a criminal investigation, now needed to get to the facts, and to win back member-confidence?

Can the Government be persuaded to direct the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct an investigation?

Are local Members of Parliament aware of the situation in the FSB?

SOME ADDITIONAL RELEVANT FACTS
(Will Be Reported Upon In More Detail In The Future)

Auditor says FSB Accounts Only 'Partly' Audited

At the FSB Annual General Meeting in March 1999, the FSB auditor, Frank Murphy, a Partner of accountants BKR Haines Watts, Liverpool, admitted that his 'audit' did NOT check the transactions in FSB regions and branches! He affirmed that he merely 'audited' the consolidated accounts kindly presented to him by the FSB 'Finance Director' (also known as FSB National Treasurer). In effect therefore FSB accounts of regional and branch transactions are not audited.

In February 1999 in reply to an FSB member's question regarding the control of FSB funds, FSB Company Secretary David Dexter wrote,

"At the present time, there is no separate internally audited function within the Federation"

Can that situation provide the necessary financial safeguards which an audit certificate should signify to FSB members?

It is hoped that the police will now conduct a full investigation into alleged fraudulent use of FSB members funds.

West Midlands Police Fraud Squad Officer Verbally Alleges FSB To Be A 'Major Financial Scam'

In spite of that claim which was stated to at least three concerned FSB members, including a Regional Chairman and a Regional Vice-Chairman, and a former Regional Secretary, the same police officer agreed with FSB directors that the directors themselves appoint someone to conduct their own enquiry.

Further representations have been made to the West Midlands Police to investigate their own investigation. It is hope that grounds will be found to have the investigation re-opened and properly investigated, independently of FSB directors, certain of whom have been named as being implicated in financial and administrative irregularities.

Second Suspect Investigation Mounted By FSB Directors

A second suspect investigation was mounted by FSB directors. Unfortunately FSB Company Secretary and director, David Dexter, who is subject of serious allegations of both financial and administrative irregularities, was the person who appointed the investigator; Peter A Langard. The name of Peter Langard is not clear because the name of the firm issued by the Police is different to that used by Peter Langard himself.

In spite of not being sure of the name of Peter Langard's firm, West Midlands Police Fraud Squad officers seemed willing to hand their investigation over to him acting in conjunction with David Dexter and his FSB director colleagues!

The investigator was evasive about the terms of his appointment, disrespectful in the tone of his communications with some of the complainants. Adverse suspicions bout the attitude of the investigator and the manner of the establishment of the investigation, resulted in NONE of the seven complainants aggreeing to meet with the investigator.

The suspicion of those who allege fraud in the FSB is supported by the fact that that Peter Langard's investigation report was said to be confidential and not distributed to the complainants nor to FSB members.

In a letter to Hubert Taylor of this website, FSB Chairman and Director, John Emmins states that the Peter Langard investigation did not substantiate any of the allegations of financial improprieties.

If the Peter Langard's investigation and report clears found nothing wrong, why is the report being held as confidential?

Why is the full report, and details of its establishment and conduct, not made public and thus available to complainants, to FSB members, and to the public at large to whom the FSB promotes its services in membership-recruitment campaigns?

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