A man who was jailed for eight and half years for his involvement in a £1.4 million tax credit fraud has been told to pay back more than £740,000 or face a further three years in jail.
Olaide (John) Taiwo was jailed alongside accomplice Olajumoke Ademuyiwa in April 2011 for stealing the identities of at least 350 people, and using them to submit over 300 fraudulent tax credit claims.
He was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining tax credit payments by submitting false claims using other individuals identity details without their knowledge or consent, in contravention with S35 Tax Credits Act 2002, contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and Section 329 (1) (a) of the proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Ademuyiwa, who was jailed for four years, has already repaid the £28,500 she was ordered to pay at a separate confiscation hearing in November last year.
It is important to obtain proper legal advice if you find yourself subject to a confiscation hearing.
It is a fact moving area of law, and there seems to be a trend towards the authorities pursing Civil Recovery Orders rather than high profile criminal proceedings. Financial restraints are also encouraging the Courts to try new approaches. For example, we have noticed that the Courts are now considering such things as the apportionment of responsibility between defendants, the interests of third parties and creditors, and certificates of inadequacy.
Contact Lewis Nedas’ Criminal Lawyers in London
For specialist legal advice please contact our solicitors Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan on 020 7387 2032 or complete our online enquiry form here.
This blog is intended as a news item only. No connection between Lewis Nedas Law and the parties involved is intended or implied.
