HM Revenue & Customs (London): Wheels come off for coach-driving VAT fraudster

A VAT fraudster who tried to steal over £51,000 was sentenced today at Harrow Crown Court to 150 hours community service as well as 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Kamlesh Kumar, 45, of Wembley, owned and ran Mazza Coaches. In September 2009 he attempted to claim a VAT repayment of £51,000 for the purchase of four minibuses. In reality, Kumar had only ever bought one vehicle, which was repossessed two months after he began paying for it. He created fake invoices to make it look as though he had paid for all four minibuses in order to claim back VAT that he had never actually paid.

HMRC officers arrested Kumar in September 2010 when he admitted his crimes. He claimed he had planned to use the fraudulent VAT money to expand his business.

Martin Brown, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said:
“This was a blatant attempt to steal money from the public purse. HMRC will not tolerate people trying to rip off honest taxpayers, and this case shows that these criminals will be caught and subject to the full force of the law.”

Notes to editors

1. Details of the defendant:
* Kamlesh Kumar, DOB 03/02/1966, of 17 Harrowdene Close, Wembley, Middlesex, HA0 2JE
2. The defendant was charged with dishonestly submitting to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs a VAT return falsely claiming a VAT repayment from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in contravention of section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 150 hours of community service and forced to pay £600 costs.
3. The total amount Kumar fraudulently attempted to claim back was £51,206.57. 
4. If anyone has any information to report to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about any individuals or businesses that may be evading their tax, please contact the Tax Evasion hotline by calling 0800 788 887 or via the website www.hmrc.gov.uk/tax-evasion.
5. To view the photographs associated with this release, please use the link below:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=418939&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=257 
6. Follow HMRC on Twitter at: @HMRCgovuk

NAT 23/11

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