Jail Bosses Seize Con's Dirty Cash

Mar 9 2008 By Derek Alexander

Armed Robber Hit By Proceeds Of Crime Probe

A VIOLENT thug is at the centre of a dirty money probe after prison bosses seized his cash.

Jailed Thomas Lothian had money removed after s500 was posted to him anonymously in Glenochil Prison.

Wardens suspected it was the proceeds of crime.

It is the first time a prisoner has had money confiscated from his Prisoner's Personal Cash (PPC) account amid money-laundering fears.

Armed robber Lothian, 38, claims the money was a gift from pals who wanted to help him while he is inside the Clackmannanshire jail.

But the cash has now been frozen while police investigate.

A source said: "Tam is furious. He's adamant there's no question of it being from crime but no one is listening to him.

"Other prisoners are worried that police may now help themselves to their cash any time they like."

But a prison service source said: "You cannot expect prisons to accept large sums of cash without knowing why it's been sent and what it's for.

"Prisoners could have cash lying in their accounts and be presented with a cheque when they leave, effectively laundering the cash."

Lothian, of Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, is serving four-and-a-half years for robbing a man at knifepoint.

He and stepson Chris Thorburn, 17, forced the man to withdraw s200 from a cash machine.

Prisoners are allowed to use s20 of their PPC each week on sweets, tobacco and luxuries. But the Proceeds of Crime Act was introduced to help authorities strip criminals of their assets.

The first source added: "It doesn't take a genius to realise that prisoners know criminals on the outside.

"But that doesn't mean the money that's sent to them is the proceeds of crime.

"Some have had more than s1000 in their PPC. A lot of the guys inside will now be very worried."

The Scottish Prison Service said yesterday: "We cannot comment on individual cases."

Central Scotland Police said: "We are liasing with prison authorities."

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