Several UK Cops Investigated by Police Watchdog over Sarah Everard's Murderer
July 10, 2021, 3:02 am

Several UK Cops Investigated by Police Watchdog over Sarah Everard's Murderer

According to the RT, the police watchdog for England and Wales has revealed that a dozen UK cops are under investigation in relation to the conduct of the officer who murdered Sarah Everard earlier this year.

Former Metropolitan Police Service firearms officer Wayne Couzens, 48, pleaded guilty to the murder of 33-year-old Everard at London’s Old Bailey court on Friday.

The officer, who served in the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command, abducted Everard on March 3 as she walked home from a friend’s house in London, before raping and strangling her.

The RT reported that following Couzens’ guilty plea, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said in a statement it had served 12 gross misconduct or misconduct notices to officers in relation to his actions.

Two Met officers are being investigated for misconduct over two allegations of indecent exposure linked to Couzens in London in February of this year.

The IOPC is also looking into “alleged Kent Police failures to investigate an indecent exposure incident linked to PC Couzens in Kent in 2015.”

Couzens lived in Kent, where he served in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary force before his diplomatic role.

Everard’s body was found in a bag near land owned by Couzens in a woodland area of the Kent town of Ashford.

Three officers have also been served gross misconduct notices after a probationary Met constable shared an “inappropriate graphic” with colleagues on social media.

The IOPC said, the officer later manned a cordon at the scene of the search for Everard.

Another notice for gross misconduct and a further six notices for misconduct were served to other officers who allegedly “breached standards of professional behaviour” by sharing details related to Couzens’ prosecution in private messages.

Nine conduct referrals related to Couzens were also made by the Met to the IOPC, which it asked to be investigated by local forces.

“Two of these were in relation to the kidnap, murder and rape of Sarah Everard and another concerned allegations of indecent exposure,” the IOPC said.

Source: RT

Image source: Reuters-RT

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.