Taxman releases tax most wanted list
HMRC releases a list of its 20 most wanted tax offenders, believed to be in hiding abroad
A LIST of the 20 most wanted alleged tax dodgers has been released by the taxman.
Names and pictures of the so-called fugitives – who are said to have fled the UK and collectively owed the public purse £765m – have been published by HM Revenue & Customs in an attempt to find them.
Hussain Chohan (pictured above), who was convicted for his role in a £200m fraud, part of which involved importing 2.25 tonnes of tobacco worth £750,000 in duty, is included in the list.
He was handed an 11-year sentence for smuggling and fraud offences and failing to appear in court, with a £33m confiscation order issued against him. He is currently believed to be in Dubai.
Gordon Arthur, currently believed to be in the United States, and is said to have cost the taxpayer £15m as result of his involvement with illegally imported cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol.
In February 2000, he broke his bail conditions and absconded. A warrant for his arrest has been in place since 2002.
Exchequer secretary David Gauke said the taxman would be persistent in its hunt for the offenders.
He said: “These criminals have collectively cost the taxpayer over £765 million and HMRC will pursue them relentlessly.
“We hope that publishing their pictures in this way will enable members of the public to contribute to the effort to catch them.”
The full list is: Gordon Arthur, Hussain Asad Chohan, Zafar Baidar Chisthi, Cesare Selvini, Nasser Ahmed, Olutayo Owolabi, Malcolm McGregor McGowan, Leigang Liang, Mohamed Sami Kaak, Yehuda Cohen, John Nugent, Vladimir Jeriomin, Wayne Joseph Hardy, Dimitri Gaskov, Adam Umerji (also known as Shafiq Patel), Darsim Abdullah, Timur Mehmet, Emma Elizabeth Tazey, Sahil Jain and Rory McGann.