ISLAMABAD: At least five Pakistanis feature in the top 20 list of British government"s "most wanted" tax fugitives. Her Majesty"s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department has issued an updated list of tax dodgers and at least two of the top 10 wanted are believed to be hiding in Pakistan.
Azra Asghar, aged between 50 and 60, failed to appear in court but received a five-year jail sentence for Value Added Tax (VAT) offences in 2002. HMRC has not released the amount she owes but it has been confirmed that she is hiding in Pakistan. Muhammad Tanwir Khan, aka Muhammad Tanwir Akhtar Khan, faces accusations of submitting false VAT repayment claims totalling more than £800,000.
Khan, between 55 and 65 and who is of Pakistani origin, is thought to be in the UK after failing to appear at Manchester Crown Court in June. Hussain Asad Chohan, 44, is believed to be in Dubai or Pakistan.
He was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court in his absence and sentenced to 11 years for his part in fraud worth around £200m, which included importing 2.25 tonnes of tobacco worth £750,000 in duty. Chohan has also been served with a £33m confiscation order. Nasser Ahmed, 40, was convicted at Bristol Crown Court in 2005 of his role in VAT fraud worth around GBP156m. He fled before verdicts were given and was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison in his absence.
HMRC says that it has received "further intelligence" this year that that re-confirms he is in Pakistan. Zafar Baidar Chisthi, 33, was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court of his part in VAT fraud worth around £150m. He was sentenced to 11 years for conspiracy to defraud the public purse and one year for perverting the course of justice. He is thought to be in Pakistan. In the top 20 list of fugitives, several cheats are believed to be hiding abroad. internews
