A Manchester businessman has been jailed for stealing more than £250,000 in VAT repayments obtained through two waste management businesses.
Chaudhry Akbar, 50, of Fairfields Road, Droylesden, used his two waste management businesses to fraudulently claim £253,426 in VAT repayments, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation found.
The case was brought by HMRC
According to HMRC, Mr Akbar submitted 36 “bogus” invoices between June 2013 and November 2015 while director of Thermal Power Ltd and Hyder Engineering (UK) Ltd. He forged paperwork, making up business purchases for heavy machinery and goods, the customs authority claimed.
HMRC investigators found Akbar passed the stolen money through numerous bank accounts in an attempt to hide the cash.
Chaudhry Akbar
Mr Akbar pleaded guilty to three counts of VAT fraud and money laundering at Manchester Crown Court on 9 January 2018. He was sentenced to 18 months at the same court yesterday (21 January).
‘Shameless’
Tim Atkins, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “This was a sustained attempt to steal taxpayers’ money and Akbar was shameless in his greed. He told lie after lie to line his own pockets and then tried to launder the cash so it couldn’t be traced back to him.
“VAT fraud steals money from vital public services such as schools and hospitals – this money is equivalent to the wages of ten newly qualified paramedics.”
Tim Atkins
HMRC
“VAT fraud steals money from vital public services such as schools and hospitals – this money is equivalent to the wages of ten newly qualified paramedics.”
According to Companies House, the nature of business for Thermal Power Ltd was remediation activities and other waste management services. Meanwhile, Hyder Engineering (UK) Ltd’s operations centred on recovery of sorted materials.
Mr Akbar’s two companies, which provided engineering and waste management services, were liquidated in August 2016.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
