A man has been arrested by police investigating the murder of the convicted fraudster Palmer, they report that after a 65-year-old was shot at his home on Sandpit Lane, in South Weald, near Brentwood, Essex, on 24 June. They now have a man in custody
Police initially believed that Palmer had had a cardiac arrest and did not realise for nearly a week that he had been gunned down.
He was rumoured to have been killed with a shotgun fitted with a silencer and ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage.
A 43-year-old man from Rugby has now been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit the murder. The Essex Police said.
“Palmer was jailed for eight years in 2001 for masterminding a timeshare fraud targeting people across the UK.
A year later, he was ordered to hand over £35m, but the ruling was overturned on a technicality”.
Det Ch Insp Simon Werrett, who is leading the murder investigation, explained: “This is a positive development but we are continuing to appeal for witnesses to any suspicious activity in the area.
“Sandpit Lane is a popular spot for joggers and dog-walkers and I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity between 16:00 BST and 18:00 BST on Wednesday, June 24.”
The arrested man has been released on police bail until 23 September pending police further inquiries.
Palmer’s wealth was once estimated at £300m, according to an Underworld Rich List compiled for the BBC in 2004.
He owned helicopters, a French chateau and a £1m mansion in Bath, and was once considered one of the biggest landowners on Tenerife.
‘The Timeshare king’
Brought up in Olton, near Birmingham, Palmer was a serial truant who left school unable to read or write, he made his fortune by going into the gold and jewellery business with a friend
He was arrested for his alleged role in helping smelt gold stolen from a warehouse at Heathrow in 1983 but was cleared of any wrongdoing
Palmer’s most lucrative enterprise was a timeshare scam based in Tenerife, in which he conned at least 16,000 victims until he was jailed in 2001
The BBC understands when he was killed, he was on bail after being arrested in Spain over an unknown offence
Palmer kept a sign on his office desk which read: “Remember the golden rule – he who has the gold makes the rules”
The Luxury yacht of owned by John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer was found abandoned in a rundown marina in Tenerife
The £6 million yacht, called the Brave Goose of Essex, has been sitting in the marina since Palmer’s death.
The 115-foot yacht has an on-board spa, sleeps eight and was run by a crew of seven. It was Palmer’s pride and joy, and he used it to host parties and fishing trips.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk