FPI faces investigation
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The company which left truck drivers' dreams in tatters after it failed to keep promises of a new life in America is under investigation in a government crackdown an rogue directors and failed firms.
First Point International and its directors are among the first 20 companies to be targeted by the new scheme, known as the Forensic Insolvency Recovery Service (FIRS).
The official receivers have called in tap insolvency practitioner Kingston Smith to investigate why the company failed. If it finds irregularities in the actions of any of the directors, those individuals could be sued to pay creditors.
A typical case involves a claim of at least 1200,000 and is based on findings such as fraud, trading while insolvent and underselling company assets to people connected with the firm.
Former FPI director David Webster (disqualified in July 1999 and found guilty of visa fraud earlier this year) will be questioned by King
ston Smith within the next few weeks. The actions of other managers and directors including Philip tyons, Graham Capsey, Susan Tindale, David Saunders and John Gillespie will also come under scrutiny.
When the FIRS project was first announced, Nick Miller of Kingston Smith said: "We check if the target has sufficient assets by working closely with inquiry agents. If so, it does not matter whether it is the directors, people connected to them or their advisers we are going after. The naughtier someone has been the better."
In December 1999 CM exclusively reported that US immigration authorities were investigating FPI's "truck drivers' programme" which promised clients the green card needed to work in the States. About 250 drivers paid £5,500 each but no green cards were issued.
First Point International (Europe) and First Point International were wound up last May owing nearly £2m to the Exchequer.