Trader behind UK’s biggest ever fraud facing deportation after serving prison sentence

Thousands of pounds raised to halt removal of Kweku Adoboli, who has lived in Britain since he was a child and was sentenced after found guilty of causing a $2.3bn unauthorised trading loss

Adoboli who currently lives with two of his godchildren whom he helps care for, has argued that his close friends and family ties to the UK (Getty Images)

The USB trader behind the UK’s largest ever fraud is facing deportation from the UK after being detained in Scotland on Monday night.

Thousands of pounds have been raised to halt the removal of Kweku Adoboli, 38, who has lived in Britain since he was a child and was released from prison in 2016 after serving half of his seven-year sentence.

Adoboli was found guilty in 2012 of causing a $2.3bn unauthorised trading loss. Since being release from jail, he has spent time speaking to people in the banking sector about how to prevent a repeat of his actions.

During his court case, Adoboli told the jury his managers were aware of his actions and encouraged him to take risks, but the court was told he made “unprotected, unhedged, incautious and reckless” trades.

The Home Office has now said it intends to deport the 38-year-old next Monday. He was taken to Dungaval detention centre in Strathaven after reporting to the Home Office on 3 September.

Under British law, any foreign national sentenced to more than four years in jail is subject to automatic deportation.

Adoboli, who says he currently lives with two of his godchildren whom he helps care for, has argued that his close friends and family ties to the UK, along with the fact that he is at low risk of re-offending and is non-violent, mean he should be granted permission to stay.

He lived in Ghana until he was four, when his family moved to the Middle East. He was sent to boarding school in the north of England at the age of 12 and he has stayed in Britain ever since.

After joining UBS from Nottingham university, Adoboli was given a work permit and subsequently secured permanent residence status. He worked at UBS until his arrest in 2011.

A Crowdjustice campaign launched by friends of Adoboli has raised more than £17,700 to continue the legal battle to keep him in the UK.

“We remain hopeful that the Home Secretary will have the common sense not to deport an individual that is so obviously an asset to our community," the page states.

"We, his friends in the UK, are his family. He is godfather to seven of our children, was best man at three of our weddings, helps us push wheelchairs up mountains, and is our best friend, brother and son."

A Home Office spokesperson said they would not routinely comment on individual cases, adding: “All foreign nationals who are given a custodial sentence will be considered for removal.

“Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them and we have removed more than 42,800 foreign offenders since 2010.”