Five men jailed for money laundering using Paisley law firm
They face a total of more than 30 years behind bars
Five men have been jailed for a total of more than 30 years for money laundering - including the hacking of a football club owner's bank account.
Former lawyers Iain Robertson, 69, David Lyons, 71, and Alistair Blackwood, 68, along with Mohammed Aziz, 61, and Robert Ferguson, 67, were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
A total of almost £1.5m of dirty money was funnelled through the client account of Robertson's law firm in Paisley, Renfrewshire to try and make it look legitimate.
Robertson and Lyons, both of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, as well as Aziz, of Glasgow's Partick, were convicted of a charge of being involved in serious organised crime after a lengthy trial late last year.
The trio as well as Blackwood, of Dunlop, Ayrshire, and Ferguson, of Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, were also found guilty of charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Addressing Robertson, Lyons and Aziz first, Lord Richardson told them: "You collectively formed a crucial link to a web of criminality that spread across the UK.
"You did this by cleaning the proceeds of crime and thereby gave them (other criminals) access to their ill gotten gains.
"On any view, your conduct was highly reprehensible."
Robertson had been the partner at his firm responsible for dealing with money laundering issues.
Lord Richardson: "Society expects and demands lawyers to act in honesty and integrity at all times.
"You undermined the very trust which underpins legal practice and commerce to take place."
The judge said Blackwood had also been convicted of charges of "a very grave nature".
He went on to reject an attempt by Ferguson's lawyer to impose an alternative to prison.
The charges spanned between 2015 and 2016.
The trial was sparked after a Law Society of Scotland probe into the Robertson and Ross legal firm in Causeyside Street, Paisley.
In his closing speech, prosecutor Mr Cameron stated: "Robertson's part in this was plain.
"He had access to the client account ...and able pay out to others all while making it seem transactions were legitimate.
"From the evidence, David Lyons appeared to be one step closer to the criminals as he was the one repeatedly telling Robertson a payment was coming.
"Aziz appeared to be one step closer again...money was suggested to be going to 'his guy'."
He later added: "Is it really credible to suggest that Iain Robertson was routinely targeted by criminals and that dodgy money kept coming into his client account and that he simply did not know."
Prosecutors said Lyons and Aziz had closer links to those behind the large-scale crime with Blackwood and Ferguson also playing vital roles.
Lawyers for all five today said the group all maintained their innocence.
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