Immuno Biotech staff appear in court linked with GcMaf profits

Tuesday 16 January 2018

The two former staff have been accused of handling funds linked to the "criminal conduct" of the creator of Gc-MAF, David Noakes.

Peter Dawson-Ball and Samata MacPane have both been released on bail pending further enquiries into their links with Immuno Biotech, the firm responsible for the production of the now-banned products Gc-MAF and GOleic.

The pair had both worked for Mr Noakes before his local offices were closed down following a raid on the Pollet premises in February 2017, when hundreds of files were confiscated. Previously Immuno Biotech's laboratory in the UK had been closed down in 2015, with the import of Gc-MAF and GOleic into Guernsey banned, amid claims that decision would "cost patients lives".

Mr Noakes is awaiting trial in London on charges of possessing unauthorised medicinal products and manufacturing an unlicensed medicine.

Now, two of his former staff - Mr Dawson-Ball and Miss MacPane - have been charged with a number of offences including being concerned in the management and financial control of Immuno Biotech and knowing or suspecting Mr Noakes was engaged in or had benefitted from criminal conduct, namely making and selling Gc-MAF or GOleic. 

The pair appeared before Guernsey's Magistrate's Court on 15 January, where both stood accused of receiving funds, worth tens of thousands of pounds, from bank accounts linked to Mr Noakes' alleged criminal activity.

Both have been released on bail, with the condition they don't leave the island. 31 year old Miss Macpane's case was then adjourned until the 31 January when she is due to appear in court again.

Mr Dawson Ball, 63, is likely to re-appear before Guernsey's Magistrate's court within days as he has asked for a relaxation of his bail conditions so he can work as a skipper on a yacht which needs to be sailed from Gibraltar to the British Virgin Islands. The Magistrate, Cherry McMillan, told his lawyer that more details are needed before she can make a decision.