Retired accountant, 73, accused of being involved in a massive timeshare scam run by murdered gangster John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer fights extradition to Spain
- Paul Blanchard, 73, is alleged to have helped criminals between 1999 and 2001
- The late John Palmer was jailed for eight years in 2001 for huge timeshare scam
- Blanchard was arrested in Fulford, York, in 2018 for money laundering in Spain
- European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2018 but he is battling the extradition bid
Paul Blanchard is accused of being involved in a timeshare scam run by John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer
A retired accountant will fight extradition to Spain over his alleged involvement in a massive timeshare scam run by murdered gangster John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer.
Paul Blanchard, 73, is said to have helped criminals in the Canary Isles launder and invest their ill-gotten cash between 1999 and 2001.
Palmer, who was murdered at his gated home near Brentwood, Essex in June 2015, was jailed for eight years in 2001 for ripping off 17,000 sun-seekers in the UK’s biggest ever timeshare con.
Blanchard is said to have acted as a financial adviser to Mohamed Jamil Derbah, 55, who allegedly laundered money through timeshare sales and fraudulent holiday packages.
Derbah is said to have acted as right-hand man to Palmer before the pair became embroiled in a feud over rival timeshare operations in Tenerife.
Lebanese-born Derbah is alleged to have set up a rival gang and paid accountant Blanchard for financial advice.
Blanchard denies any dishonesty but when Spanish authorities began investigating Derbah, who they suspected of funding militant group Hezbollah, he agreed to help as an informer.
John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer (pictured) was murdered at his gated home near Brentwood, Essex in June 2015. He was jailed for eight years in 2001 for ripping off 17,000 sun-seekers
But he now maintains he was ‘sold down the river by the Spanish authorities’ and unlawfully forced to incriminate himself.
Blanchard’s extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court has now been adjourned until 16 April.
District Judge Nina Tempia said: ‘As far as Mr Blanchard is concerned we can certainly endorse that the deputy chief magistrate has agreed this should be adjourned to 16 April.’
Blanchard was arrested in Fulford, York, in 2018 by North Yorkshire Police for money laundering in Spain.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued in April 2018 but he is battling the extradition bid.