HMRC Publishes List Of 'Most Wanted' Alleged Tax-Dodgers

How Many Of The Most Wanted Tax-Dodgers Have Been Caught?
The 'most wanted' list has been crticised after only one person was apprehended in the last year
The 'most wanted' list has been crticised after only one person was apprehended in the last year
PA

Just one of a list of 20 'most wanted' tax-dodgers has been caught, the government has admitted.

A year ago, HMRC took the unprecedented step of publishing the names and pictures of 20 people accused of avoiding millions of pounds in tax.

It has now confirmed the appeal helped provide intelligence on 15 of the alleged offenders, no update on four and one was captured.

A second man not included in the original list of 20 but later said to be on it has also been caught in the last 12 months, the department said.

Labour's shadow Treasury minister Catherine McKinnell said the figures represented a "huge failure".

"The government needs to do better," she told the BBC.

HMRC has now renewed its appeals on 19 of the suspects while adding 10 new names wanted in connection with offences including VAT fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

Last year, when the original list was published, Exchequer Secretary David Gauke said: "We hope that publishing their pictures in this way will enable members of the public to contribute to the effort to catch them."

The new people listed have cost the taxpayer between £120,000 and £10 million, HMRC claims.

Chancellor George Osborne insisted the new list will help bring more "tax fraudsters" to justice.

The new list includes Michael George Voudouri, who pleaded guilty at Glasgow High Court in relation to money laundering linked to VAT fraud but failed to appear for sentencing.

HMRC said the man, aged between 40 and 50, is believed to be residing in northern Cyprus and is estimated to have cost taxpayers £10 million.

Anish Anand, aged between 25 and 35, is also included after failing to appear at Croydon Crown Court in April 2013 in relation to £6 million VAT and film tax credit fraud.

Anand was convicted in his absence last month and is thought to be in the UK.

Another on the list is Michael "Arthur" Fearon, aged between 18 and 25, who was charged in connection with evasion of excise duty on nearly 8.4 million Benson & Hedges cigarettes, according to HMRC.

He is also wanted by the UK Border Agency in connection with money laundering offences and also by Republic of Ireland police for driving offences.

HMRC said he crossed over the border into Northern Ireland driving a Black Mercedes C200 CDI Sport. The department estimates the Northern Irish man has cost taxpayers £2 million and believes he is in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Osborne said: "The Government has stepped up HMRC's enforcement activities to enable them to pursue tax cheats relentlessly around the world.

"The publication of HMRC's Most Wanted has already helped catch two people wanted for tax fraud. This new list will help put more tax fraudsters in the spotlight and bring them to justice."

But shadow Treasury minister Catherine McKinnell said: "One year on, it's a huge failure that 18 of the 20 most wanted tax fraudsters have still not been caught.

"At a time when families are facing a cost of living crisis, it's even more important that everyone pays their fair share of tax. The Government needs to do better."

The two men caught since the most-wanted list first emerged are John Nugent, 53, and Anthony Judge, aged between 35 and 45.

HMRC said Nugent fraudulently claimed more than £22 million in duty and VAT reclaims.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced on May 31 that Nugent had been jailed for four and a half years for an £11 million fraud.

Judge was wanted for his role in arranging financial crimes totaling more than £350,000, HMRC said. He failed to appear at Canterbury Crown Court in 2003 to answer charges relating to money laundering and had not been seen since.

HMRC said Judge was caught at Heathrow Airport on July 4 while travelling on a false passport and has since pleaded guilty.

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