VAT scam gang jailed
THREE men, including a man from Manchester, have been jailed for their part in a £300,000 VAT scam.
Annas Bah, 33, of Woodhead Street Manchester, a naturalised British citizen and Gambian passport holder was sentenced to three years in prison and was disqualified from being a company director for seven years.
He was jailed alongside Pa Modou Njai of Princess Gate, West Bromwich, and Ousman Moustapha Njai of Winson Green, Birmingham.
The trio, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977, set up bogus companies with the sole intention of committing tax fraud.
The gang set up nine bogus firms including a clothing manufacturer, a publishing house and a software engineering company. They then submitted VAT repayment claims from these companies, but there was no evidence of trading.
Adrian Farley, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said:
“This case sends a clear message to anyone involved or considering fraud against HMRC – your time is up.
“We are working relentlessly to combat those involved in tax evasion and fraud and bring them before the courts. With over £10bn being stolen from UK finances each year by criminals, it is serious crime which we are determined to eradicate.
HMRC criminal investigators arrested the men in dawn raids in March 2012. They searched five residential properties – three in the West Midlands, one in Staffordshire and one in Manchester. Computers and business records were seized along with banking documents.
The trio were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday.
