Jailed: Kilburn businessman who carried out £410k VAT fraud
Mashallah Ali has been jailed for tax fraud - Credit: Archant
A businessman from Kilburn who carried out a £410,000 VAT fraud using his television production company has been jailed.
Mashallah Ali, of Minster Road, submitted 16 false VAT returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) showing what he chose to declare and pay, rather than what he actually charged on sales between 2011 and 2014.
His ruse was uncovered after suspicious HMRC officers investigated his company’s VAT returns.
After he was arrested in December 2014 he told HMRC he had started “messing around with the VAT” in an attempt to keep the Marylebone-based company Eclipse Sat Ltd afloat.
Last week at Southwark Crown Court he was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
You may also want to watch:
David Margree, from HMRC, said: “Ali knew what he was doing was illegal.
“He was trying to prop up a failing business using public money like a private bank, at the expense of honest taxpayers.
Most Read
- 1 Diamond thief prepared for £4.2m heist at Cricklewood hotel
- 2 Teenager jailed for murder of Jamalie Maleek in Northwick Park
- 3 View from the community - 'Could another riot happen?'
- 4 Drunk and off-duty Met officer sentenced after assaulting man
- 5 Willesden Green residents oppose mosque's housing block application
- 6 Former Brent school boy Tom Dean beats Covid to win Gold at the Tokyo Olympics
- 7 Letter on banning wearing of religious symbols
- 8 Tokyo Olympics: Brondesbury Park pupils wish swimmer Tom Dean luck
- 9 Tom Dean wins second Tokyo 2020 gold with 4x200m relay victory
- 10 Brent gang members convicted of shooting a man in Enfield
“HMRC is determined to clamp down on this type of crime and to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses.
“This sentencing sends a clear message to anyone who is considering tax fraud, HMRC can and will come after you and you too could end up behind bars.”
