Ganglord convicted in murder of Indian millionaire Chohan

Chohan’s body was found in the sea two months later floating near a pier at Bournemouth on the south coast of England. His wife’s body and her mother’s were found later, but the bodies of the two baby boys are still missing.

‘‘This is a crime utterly beyond the comprehension of decent society,’’ said Detective Chief Inspector Dave Little, who led the investigation.

The jury heard how Chohan had left a note telling police he expected to be killed by Regan. The note was hidden in Chohan’s sock and was still legible when his body was found in the water. Police described it as a vital clue and a ‘‘letter from the grave’’.

Regan, a convicted drug dealer and police informant, had killed Chohan to take over his company as a front for importing drugs. The Indian-born businessman had been forced to sign his company over to Regan shortly before he was murdered.

Regan then told police that Chohan had given up his business and gone abroad voluntarily.

The trial also heard how Regan had wanted the money to impress a woman, Belinda Brewin, who was a close friend of the late television presenter and ex-wife of Irish rocker Bob Geldof, Paula Yates. Brewin was in court on Monday and smiled as the verdicts were read out.

Detectives put the cost of the eight-month case at £10 mn, saying the two-year investigation involved over 1,000 officers and stretched from Britain to Belgium, the US and India.

The men will be sentenced on Tuesday.

Letter from grave

• Chohan, who ran a haulage company importing food into Britain from Africa, vanished in February 2003 with his wife, two young sons and mother-in-law

• Chohan had left a note telling police he expected to be killed by Regan. The note was hidden in Chohan’s sock and was still legible when his body was found in the water

• Regan, a convicted drug dealer and police informant, had killed Chohan to take over his company as a front for importing drugs