The nine men jailed in December 2010 and January 2011 after a £17 million ‘missing trader’ VAT fraud have been joined by four more men. A further defendant has been charged and is due to stand trial next year.
Criminal investigators from HM Revenue & Customs spent five years investigating the multi-million pound fraud. In addition to the £17 million claimed, VAT claims for a further £5 million had been made - and plans to steal an additional £300 million in VAT were found.
Gary Lampon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said “This was a complex and lengthy investigation, over five years, to unravel this multi million pound fraud by an organised crime gang. They used the money to fund extravagant lifestyles at the expense of the British taxpayer. ‘Missing trader’ fraud is not merely a paper fraud, it funds other serious crime and we are determined to pursue and bring to justice the criminals behind this type of fraud. Assets of £8 million have so far been restrained and confiscation proceedings are underway to reclaim the proceeds.”
Gurjit Singh was sentenced to two years in prison, Shabir Anwar Ahmed was sentenced to four years in prison, Muhammad Al-Numairy Raza was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and Bharat Muriji Odedra was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.