Judge halts £1.7m fraud trial

A Crown Court judge has halted a £1.7 million fraud trial and launched an attack on the religious organisation involved.

Judge George Bathurst Norman discharged the jury at Southwark Crown Court after telling them that United Synagogue hindered the prosecution.

According to today's Jewish Chronicle, the judge said documents repeatedly requested were not supplied until last week. But the synagogue says it gave the documents to the police.

The trial involved six people and claims they defrauded the leading synagogue organisation between 1994 and 1998. All denied conspiracy to defraud.

The hearing resumes on 3 December.