London Architecture - What A Beautiful House

As a representation of classic architecture it can be said that Dean Rees House, Rutland Place, off Charterhouse Square, is one of the finest examples in London today.

Fig. Dean Rees House

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simon_p_white/2218897367/

The frieze of the Dean Rees House is a particularly fine piece of work, the carving is delicate and the Portland stone remains in good condition in spite of the aggressive London atmosphere. The building is certainly worth a visit and a few photos as a treasure such as this needs to be cherished. More photos of Dean Rees House can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simon_p_white/2218897367/lightbox/

Barry Tannenbaum Can You Believe This?

It would appear that Kroll have considered that Tannenbaum is an innocent in all this !!!  This is the same firm that said Sir Alan Stanford was OK – Are they drinking something we cannot buy? Read and weep:


US investigators Kroll all set to clear Tannenbaum of alleged Ponzi

September 6th, 2009 | Forensic Investigation, Fraud Detection,investigation

The perils of focusing too strongly on identifying `red flags’ during due diligence profiles has come to haunt Kroll, the well known risk consultancy firm based in New York. Kroll, also known for its Kroll Consulting, Kroll Associates, Kroll Ontrack, Kroll Factual Data businesses is the author of the recent Kroll Global Fraud Report.  It has been reported in the media that Kroll screened and gave the green light to two alleged fraudsters.

The matter involves alleged Ponzi scheme operated by two fraudsters with links to South Africa which resulted in a loss of around US$250 Million to investors. In 2007, Kroll was requested to profile Barry Tannenbaum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Tannenbaum a South African, on behalf of a New York-based asset management firm that was considering investing a substantial investment with their venture.

Fig. Barry Tannebaum & House in Australia

revelation is a further blow for Kroll as the New York based firm is still reeling from the revelation that one of its top investigators gave a similar upbeat endorsement to Sir Allen Stanford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Stanford the Texas billionaire accused of orchestrating a $7 Billion Ponzi scheme which is under investigation by US Federal Authorities.

The due diligence profile was said to focus on identifying  any `red flags’ which would indicate a serious flaw in their background, but found nothing unusual with Tannenbaum and is instead reported to have portrayed the businessmen in a “very positive light.

However, in mid 2009, Tannenbaum have been accused of operating a scheme involving the procurement of ingredients for antiretroviral drugs into South Africa for the treatment of HIV sufferers. The two are now being actively investigated by South African police in relation to allegations of fraud.

Around 400 wealthy South Africans investors placed millions of dollars with the pair on the basis they would see returns of over 50% per year, driven by supplying the precursor chemicals to pharmaceutical companies.

But by 2009, it transpired that many investors had not seen a payment for months and were being stonewalled by Tannenbaum. It was alleged by some investors that the contracts with the pharmaceutical firms to supply the precursor chemicals were fictitious and no income stream existed. A report was subsequently sent to the South African authorities and national law enforcement agencies started an investigation into Tannenbaum.

Salesmen are believed to have been instrumental in attracting wealthy clients into the venture whilst Tannebaum was in charge of operations. Any wrongdoing is denied and so far no charges have been laid.

Documents seen by a UK based newspaper apparently show that Kroll Background Screening conducted a background profile of  Tannenbaum in 2007.  The completed Kroll report was apparently circulated to potential investors by Tannebaum although Kroll has declined to comment on the report.

Tannenbaum, currently in Sydney, Australia has protested his innocence to the fraud allegations and indicated that the Kroll report could be helpful in his ongoing struggle to clear his name. The above article has been abridged from:

http://www.intellisec.com/blog/2009/09/06/us-investigators-kroll-all-clear-to-allged-ponzi-pair-barry-tannenbaum/

East Dean – The Village of My Youth

My earliest recollection of East Dean http://www.eastdeanvillage.org.uk/ were probably formed about 1950 when I was five and a Sunday evening treat would be to travel by bus, over the South Downs from Eastbourne, to East Dean.  Once in the village, having negotiated the footpath through a field containing an always grumpy goat, or at least my Dad told us kids he was, we sat outside the Tiger Inn and waited patiently for our Star Brewery lemonade and Smiths Crisps to appear. I cannot recall what my Mum had to drink but for Dad it was always Guinness.  After the crisps and lemonade had been consumed we would run around the green trying to frighten the sheep always tethered there to keep the grass short. After all was done we would walk up the hill towards Friston pond and catch the bus from there back home to town, it was a really nice Sunday evening out when you were five.

Fig. East Dean Village Green Cross