SFO

A survey of 150 investors in properties sold by overseas property agent Harlequin, which is at the centre of a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation, suggests as many as 40% of them have asked for their money back - but only two have received it.

A BBC producer who was working on a Panorama programme about troubled overseas property agent Harlequin Property has left the corporation as it emerged that Harlequin is to take an allegation of bribery against him to the police.

Harlequin Property, the UK-based overseas property sales agent that is at the centre of a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation, has lost its second auditor in under three years.

Regulators have fined companies and top bosses about £1bn for fraudulent activities since 2007, a report due out today has found.

Some agents selling Harlequin properties before March 2009 misled investors into thinking that their investment money would be held securely in ring-fenced accounts.

TailorMade, a UK distributor of investments in Harlequin Property, has said it stopped taking new money into the overseas property scheme in January following a Financial Services Authority (FSA) alert about Harlequin.

Harlequin Property, a UK-based overseas property sales agent that is not regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has agreed a "substantial" out of court settlement with a number of investors who wanted their money back.

The ex-boss of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been attacked by a panel of MPs over his 'shocking' stewardship of the organisation.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched a joint investigation with Essex Police into complaints in relation to the Harlequin group.

The former head of the Serious Fraud Office has been heavily criticised for allegedly sanctioning almost £1m of severance payments to three departing colleagues without getting the necessary approvals.