BDO has resigned its role as auditor of a UK-based Caribbean luxury property developer under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Essex Police.

The firm filed a public resignation of the audit at Companies House stating that it could not continue to act as auditor of Harlequin Management Services (South East).

BDO's resignation means the company has lost its second auditor in under three years.

The accountancy firm's letter, addressed to the directors of Harlequin, said: 'Following our disclaimer of audit opinion in relation to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2011 and our report of significant audit findings to the directors, we have not been given sufficient information by the directors to enable us to ascertain whether or not appropriate progress has been made in relation to those findings.

'In light of this lack of communication and the importance that international standards on auditing place on effective two way communications as a pre-requisite for an effective audit, we have resigned as statutory auditor.'

The SFO is investigating Harlequin, which it says specialises in the marketing, sale and construction of luxury off-plan property developments in the Caribbean.

It is asking anyone that has invested in Harlequin schemes, to get in touch with them. It says it is 'particularly interested' in hearing from people who invested in seven resorts including Buccament Bay in St Vincent & the Grenadines; Merricks in Barbados; the Marquis Estate in St Lucia; The Hideaway, Las Canas and Two Rivers - all in the Dominican Republic, as well as the Garapua Beach Resort in Brazil.

The SFO is asking investors in Harlequin schemes, to complete an online questionnaire to help it gather evidence.

Harlequin's previous auditor Wilkins Kennedy resigned in summer 2010.