Elliot Group founder Elliot Lawless has secured a judicial review challenging his arrest in December last year.
Lawless was arrested by Merseyside Police on 18 December on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, bribery, and corruption. A Liverpool City Council official was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office.
Police also had a warrant to search Lawless’ home at the time of the arrest. In January this year, police seized £200,000 from the founder following a further raid on his property.
Lawless has now secured a judicial review, after an expeditated hearing was ordered last week.
The Elliot Group founder said: “I am challenging the police execution of search warrants and the whole basis of their case which, as I have said from the outset, is completely without foundation.”
The news follows Lawless’ decision to put three stalled schemes in Manchester and Liverpool into administration, as the police probe into his alleged activities continues.
Administrators Paul Cooper and David Rubin of David Rubin & Partners were brought in to place the Aura, Infinity and Residence schemes into administration.
Lawless said that an unnamed developer – which EG revealed was Vermont – was in talks to take over the projects earlier this month.
If these talks fell through, or investors did not sign off the appointment, Lawless said the schemes would have to be put into administration.
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