Delay in money-laundering prosecution deprived minor of statutory protections

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from the High Court, and affirmed a decision to grant prohibition of the prosecution of a young individual charged with money laundering due to significant prosecutorial delay. The delay in prosecution had resulted in the individual losing the protections afforded to minors under the children's legislation, leading to significant prejudice. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court's assessment of delay and prejudice, although it recalculated the period of delay to be nine months instead of twenty. Despite this, the Court of Appeal concluded that the public interest in prosecuting the offence did not outweigh the prejudice suffered by the individual, who had been a minor at the time of the alleged offence. The appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions was dismissed, affirming the injunction against further prosecution.