Investigation dropped against Manchester banker held for alleged fraud
Police not pursuing any charges against Benji Silverstone, former outreach rabbi who now heads investment firm
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
An investigation has been dropped against a British banker in Manchester who heads an investment firm and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Benji Silverstone, who heads the HBFS Wealth Management office in the British city, has worked there for nearly five years after serving over nine years as the Manchester director of the Jewish outreach group Aish Hatorah.
He was arrested in late December in the wake of other arrests at the company.
His attorney told the Jewish Chronicle that London police released Silverstone from bail and are not pursuing any criminal charges against him.
In December, London police arrested the managing director of HBFS Wealth Management on suspicion of fraud and money laundering, according to the Chronicle. Freddy David joined the company in 2000 having worked as a corporate manager at Barclays Bank.
HBFS customers were advised “to check the status of any investments made through HBFS and, if they have any concerns, to contact City of London Police.”
HBFS also was required to cease advertising its services and to write to existing customers to confirm that it is prevented from holding client money. According to its website, HBFS provides wealth management, inheritance tax solutions and fund management portfolios for self-invested personal pensions.
The Times of Israel Community.