Ex barrister jailed for VAT fraud

A NORTH West barrister who pocketed £196,000 in VAT over eight years of working on the Northern court circuit, has been jailed for a year.

Robert Walter Osman, 64, from Birkdale, Southport was jailed at Leeds Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to a charge of fraudulently evading the payment of value added tax, to the value of £196,000, between January 2003 to February 2011.

Osman was suspended from the Bar following bankruptcy and ceased practising in 2011.

During the bankruptcy proceedings HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigators discovered he had failed to account for VAT he charged his customers.

Mike O’Grady assistant director criminal investigation at HM Revenue and Customs said: “HMRC officers identified that Osman charged his customers VAT but never paid the money over to the Revenue. He simply pocketed the cash for his own personal gain, enhancing his lifestyle.

“Tax fraud and attempts to launder the proceeds of crime are treated extremely seriously by HMRC, and we will pursue any individuals or crime gangs believed to be attacking the public revenue in this way.”