3 ms·

Why isn't this a crime? Isn't it the wage theft equivalent of check kiting?

• lazide 5y ago
  It probably is a crime, and maybe it will get looked into due to this article. It is weird the article is being so circumspect about it.
  • smcin 5y ago
    No it's not weird the article is so circumspect, it's the difference between British and US journalism. a) If an accused was to be charged, media allegations could be used by them at trial. b) The UK is the most libel-friendly jurisdiction on the planet. (Look how the widespread allegations about Jimmy Savile since the 1970s didn't get reported till he died). c) Since Ali reportedly didn't gain from his operation, he seems unlikely to be able to be charged with anything higher than (allegedly) avoiding paying minimum wage, employee taxes, violations of companies laws, reckless trading. (Whether he intentionally caused his alleged victims to lose anything could be extremely hard to prove, what if he really believed his own spiel.) d) The UK Serious Fraud Office is extremely unlikely to touch this one, since there wasn't any real money involved, let alone major sums. But even if they were to, they have a track record of debacles, such as the 2021 reversal of the corruption verdict for Ziad Akle. e) Then a possible scenario is the peson about whom allegations were reported sues for libel.
• beaconstudios 5y ago
  This is a crime. The only real question is whether Ali will get prosecuted - which, given that he defrauded employees rather than investors, I rather doubt.