Director in payroll fraud banned for 11 years

THE director of a Greater Manchester recruitment company which went into liquidation with debts of more than £317,000 has been disqualified for 11 years for payroll deception.

Steven John Buntin, 33, a director of Act-on Recruitment Ltd, based at Astley Park Business Centre, Astley, submitted timesheets which he knew to be false.

Buntin, who lives in Wigan, signed a disqualification undertaking preventing him from acting as a company director for a period of 11 years with effect from November 18 2016.

The disqualification, which follows an investigation by the Insolvency Service, means that Buntin cannot control or manage a limited company without leave of the court.

The Insolvency Service’s investigation found that Buntin submitted timesheets which he knew to be false to four payroll service providers which enabled one employee to obtain funds of at least £42,991 to which she was not entitled and caused a loss to those providers of £74,992.

The payroll service providers would pay the employee the salary, commissions and bonuses specified on the timesheets submitted by Buntin and remit the income tax and National Insurance contributions due to HM Revenue and Customs.

Between August 22 2014 and March 8 2015 Buntin issued false timesheets to payroll service providers instructing them to pay an employee for hours not worked and/or commission not earned.

Additionally invoices were issued which resulted in the employee being paid twice for the same periods of employment.

Robert Clarke, head of insolvent investigations North at the Insolvency Service, said: “As the period of disqualification reflects using false documents to deprive creditors of money is a serious matter and contrary to the conduct expected of a company director.

“Companies have limited liability, which is a privilege, not a right and The Insolvency Service have strong enforcement powers which we will not hesitate to use to remove that privilege from dishonest or reckless directors.”