IPSWICH: Three women are due to appear before Ipswich magistrates next month over an alleged buy-to-let mortgage fraud understood to involve substantial amounts of money.

The inquiry began in 2008 after police were informed of alleged irregularities relating to Bull Road, Ipswich, a development of flats and houses built on the site of the former Bull Motors factory in Foxhall Road.

It is understood the original allegations centred around mortgages applied for, and granted, in 2006 and 2007.

Solicitors and others in the mortgage application process were questioned as part of the inquiry.

Seven suspects were arrested by Suffolk Constabulary during the lengthy investigation.

In addition to Bull Road, mortgages on other properties in London and the southern counties are also understood to have come under the spotlight as the inquiry broadened.

Three of the suspects have now been charged after answering their bail dates.

Although the scope of the investigation involved alleged irregularities relating to large amounts of money, the figure the trio are said to have benefited from has not been made public yet.

Police have said those charged are Natasha Patrick, 41, of Clarewood Walk, south-west London; Janet Mukasa, 47, of Sittingbourne, Kent; and Didi Jordan, 43, of Penshurst Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey.

Louise Rosher, a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary, said all three are accused of conspiracy to money launder.

The women are all currently on bail. They are due to make their first appearances before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich on March 9.

Three other people, a 43-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man from Carshalton, Surrey, and a 44-year-old female from Dagenham, are still under arrest in relation to the inquiry.

A 51-year-old man from Mitcham in Surrey was also arrested, but failed to answer his police bail on November 11, 2009.