NCA investigates Arron Banks and Leave.EU over alleged referendum offences
The National Crime Agency is investigating Arron Banks and the Leave.EU campaign for alleged electoral law offences during the 2016 EU referendum.
The Electoral Commission referred both Banks and another senior campaigner, Elizabeth Bilney, to the NCA.
“Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences covered by that referral, as well as any associated offences,” the NCA said.
Banks, who was a financial backer of the Leave.EU campaign which was spearheaded by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, has denied any wrongdoing.
The commission's legal counsel, Bob Posner, said: "We have reasonable grounds to suspect money given to Better for the Country came from impermissible sources and that Mr Banks and Ms Bilney, the responsible person for Leave.EU, knowingly concealed the true circumstances under which this money was provided.
"This is significant because at least £2.9m of this money was used to fund referendum spending and donations during the regulated period of the EU referendum.
"Our investigation has unveiled evidence that suggests criminal offences have been committed which fall beyond the remit of the Commission.
"This is why we have handed our evidence to the NCA to allow them to investigate and take any appropriate law enforcement action. This is now a criminal investigation."
Banks denied any wrongdoing and said he welcomed the investigation.
“It is an opportunity for us to clear up the matter,” Banks said. “The Electoral Commission have said offences may have been committed but have provided no evidence.”
"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing from the companies I own. I am a UK taxpayer and I have never received any foreign donations. The Electoral Commission has produced no evidence to the contrary," he said.
He added that the Electoral Commission had been "under intense political pressure from anti-Brexit supporters".