Four men ‘torched Ukrainian-owned firm in UK on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group'
Top cops said they were paid agents motivated by 'good old-fashioned greed'
'ARSON GANG' Four men 'torched Ukrainian-owned firm in UK on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group'
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FOUR men accused of torching a Ukrainian-owned firm in the UK did so on behalf of Russia's Wagner Group, a court has heard.
Goods including Starlink satellite equipment were being sent out to Kyiv from the targeted industrial estate unit.
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Around £1million in damage was caused when it was set alight in Leyton, East London, in March last year.
Paul English, 61, Nii Kojo Mensah, 23, Jakeem Barrington Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, are said to have started the blaze.
The Old Bailey was told that CCTV placed them driving to the scene in English's Kia Picanto.
Jurors heard Rose and Mensah were seen climbing a wall to approach the warehouse, while Mensah also livestreamed the arson.
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Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, said they were paid agents motivated by 'good old-fashioned greed'.
He added: 'They did not act alone . . . they were recruited by and directed by two others who have since admitted their role in the aggravated arson.
'This was deliberate and calculated criminality at the behest of foreign influence.'
Mr Penny said 'they may have been ignorant' that they had been recruited on behalf of the Vladimir Putin-controlled Wagner Group.
The four deny aggravated arson.
The trial continues.
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