Tuesday 1st July, 2014

A VAT fraudster has landed an 11 and a half year jail sentence following an investigation by HMRC.

The 46 year old perpetrator was originally jailed for four years in 2004 for his part in a tax scam in which he falsely claimed back VAT against non-existent Europe-wide transactions.

The HMRC then launched a second investigation into a further tax fraud worth £11.6m. Following his court appearance in 2012, Michael Voudouri absconded while on bail.

After an international warrant was issued for his arrest, he was added to the HMRC’s list of ‘Most Wanted’ tax fugitives.

Voudouri was finally tracked down in in Northern Cyprus and was returned to the UK in May 2014 for sentencing.

Jennie Granger, director general, in HMRC’s Enforcement and Compliance division said;

"We really appreciate the role that the public and other law enforcement agencies play in helping us to bring people like Voudouri to justice and would encourage anyone with information about any of HMRC’s Most Wanted tax fugitives to come forward."

Anne-Marie Gordon, HMRC’s assistant director in its Criminal Investigation division said that Voudouri made significant amounts of money from his criminal activities.

‘He was involved in complex and organised money laundering fraud over a long period and is now finally facing justice."