2008/01/19

George Buchanan will be forced to relinquish his fleet of expensive vehicles, including a Range Rover, a Mercedes , a Mini Cooper and a Ford Focus.
The ex-bodybuilder will also surrender his share of a home in Gilberstoun, Brunstane, which he shares with his wife, Marie.
Following a series of hearings at the Court of Session, Lord Penrose described Buchanan, 50, as "a dealer in controlled drugs" and decided some assets should be transferred to the Scottish Government.
Investigators from the Civil Recovery Unit sought to seize as much as £400,000 of Buchanan's assets, but will now recoup around £200,000 from the sale of the confiscated cars and property.
The judge ruled that a property in Loaning Crescent, Restalrig, and tens of thousands in cash from all but one of six bank accounts was not recoverable.
Some of the assets had been placed in the names of members of Buchanan's family, and his children Liam and Lisa Marie also appeared before the court.
In his ruling, the judge said: "Mr Buchanan's income from legitimate sources was wholly insufficient to finance any but a basic lifestyle. He was on benefits at all times when not in prison."
He added: "I consider on the evidence, that Mr Buchanan purchased high value motor cars to recycle or launder the proceeds of his dealing in controlled drugs.
"Nothing in the present proceedings has persuaded me that conclusion was incorrect."
The Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini QC, welcomed yesterday's ruling. She said: "Even where criminal assets are transferred into the names of innocent family members, evidence can be placed before the court that will lead to these assets being recovered."
Buchanan walked free from court on heroin-trafficking charges three years ago after a not-proven verdict.
But officials launched a bid to strip away two homes, four cars, jewellery and cash he amassed through crime. Investigators had told the court that there was a "financial black hole" of around £430,000 in the family's income.
During that period, Buchanan was claiming unemployment benefit while his wife Marie claimed to work for Thomson's Travel Agency, although no such tax records could be found.
Buchanan was jailed for 12 years in 1987 for being involved in one of the Capital's biggest heroin hauls and served eight years. He was also locked up for eight years as a teenager for attempted murder.
In 2004, he stood trial accused of heroin dealing after police found £90,000 in the loft of his home but was acquitted.
Buchanan claimed that much of the cash targeted by investigators came from gifts from family members, as well as rent from students, who lodged at their family home

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