Skip to main content
MENU CLOSE

Draco

by John Bechelet

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been described as draconian. This term emanates from Draco the lawgiver, who promulgated a harsh legal code in 7th century BC Athens. Both serious and trivial crimes were punishable by death, because in Draco’s opinion lesser crimes deserved it and for greater ones no heavier penalty could be found. Despite this Draco was extremely popular and met his end because of an excess of adulation on the part of his supporters. In a show of approval when he attended the Aeginetan theatre, they threw so many hats and shirts and cloaks as a mark of their appreciation that he was suffocated and died.

 

Bivonas Law LLP John Bechelet
John Bechelet

John specialises in commercial and civil fraud litigation. Admitted as a solicitor in 1983, John worked in private practice and in-house for a leading life assurance company before establishing Bivonas with Antony Brown in 1997. John has extensive experience in a wide range of courts and tribunals including the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Divisional Court. He has been involved in a number of important reported cases.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been described as draconian. This term emanates from Draco the lawgiver, who promulgated a harsh legal code in 7th century BC Athens. Both serious and trivial crimes were punishable by death, because in Draco’s opinion lesser crimes deserved it and for greater ones no heavier penalty could be found. Despite this Draco was extremely popular and met his end because of an excess of adulation on the part of his supporters. In a show of approval when he attended the Aeginetan theatre, they threw so many hats and shirts and cloaks as a mark of their appreciation that he was suffocated and died.

 

Bivonas Law LLP John Bechelet
John Bechelet

John specialises in commercial and civil fraud litigation. Admitted as a solicitor in 1983, John worked in private practice and in-house for a leading life assurance company before establishing Bivonas with Antony Brown in 1997. John has extensive experience in a wide range of courts and tribunals including the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Divisional Court. He has been involved in a number of important reported cases.

John Bechelet

About the author

John Bechelet

John specialises in commercial and civil fraud litigation. Admitted as a solicitor in 1983, John worked in private practice and in-house for a leading life assurance company before establishing Bivonas with Antony Brown in 1997. John has extensive experience in a wide range of courts and tribunals including the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Divisional Court. He has been involved in a number of important reported cases.
View articles by John Bechelet