The criminal trial of five former executives of closed firm Axiom Ince is expected to run for more than three months, it emerged yesterday.
Axiom Ince’s former chief executive and director Pragnesh Modhwadia, 43, appeared at Southwark Crown Court alongside co-director Shyam Mistry, 37, chief financial officer Muhammad Ali, 44 and IT chiefs Rupesh Karawadra, 42, and Jayesh Anjaria, 47, for a mention and application hearing.
His Honour Judge Baumgartner was told the trial remains listed for February 2027 with a time estimate of 14 weeks.
Solicitors Modhwadia and Mistry deny two counts of fraud by abuse of position, one count of conspiracy to use false instruments and a count of conspiracy to conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of documents which they knew or suspected were or would be relevant to an investigation.
Karawadra denies conspiracy to use false instruments and conspiracy to conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of documents. Anjaria denies conspiracy to conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of documents.
Ali denies two counts of fraud by abuse of position and a count of conspiracy to use false instruments.
Axiom Ince ceased trading in 2023 after an SRA intervention.
