Fraudsters jailed for site security tax dodge

Grant Prior 13 years ago
Share

A husband, wife and their three daughters have been sentenced for their part in a multi million pound tax and money laundering fraud centred on their construction security business.

Isaac William from London ran businesses supplying security guards to the construction industry called Solomon Co-Operative Services/Chris Solo Co-Operative Services (CSCS) and Euro Co-Operative Services

He was jailed for failing to declare £5m of business profits and not paying the correct amount of tax due.

His wife Venus, and their three daughters Maria Gunasekara, Sylvia William and Sophie William were also sentenced for laundering £1.3m from the business into their own bank accounts.

Simon De Kayne, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), said:
“Isaac William failed to declare his company’s income or pay taxes of £1.1m from his business activities.

“The amount he owes now stands at £2.6m including interest. His wife and daughters then continued the web of deceit by laundering over £1.3m through their personal bank accounts.

“Their criminal activities ensured they were able to fund luxury lifestyles and further increase their wealth at the expense of the taxpayer.

“We will continue to pursue those involved in this type of criminal activity and bring them before the courts. We will now work to reclaim the proceeds of their crime.”

HMRC investigators found that between 1999 and 2008 Williams’ businesses Solomon Co-Operative Services/Chris Solo Co-Operative Services (CSCS) and Euro Co-Operative Services received income of £6m.

Isaac William submitted partnership, personal income tax, VAT and PAYE returns to HMRC declaring the income as £1m.

Some of the undeclared profits were transferred from the business bank accounts into his wife’s and daughters’ personal accounts.

The family members used the money to finance the purchase of two properties in Pakistan, properties in the UK and several trips to Dubai and Pakistan.

They withdrew large amounts of cash and transferred some of it into bank accounts they held in Dubai and Pakistan.

Isaac William pleaded guilty to ten counts of tax fraud in May and was sentenced on Friday at Kingston Crown Court.

Venus William and their daughters Maria Gunasekara, Sylvia William and Sophie William were all found guilty of money laundering offences on 13 October 2011, after a trial at Kingston Crown Court.

Confiscation proceedings are underway.

Isaac William of  London SW17 was sentenced  to four years imprisonment.

Venus Rose William of London SW17 was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.

Maria Gunasekara nee William of New Malden, Surrey was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to undertake 100 hours community service.

Sylvia William of Hounslow, Middlesex was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to undertake 100 hours community service.

Sophie William of London SW17 was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to undertake 150 hours community service.

Latest news

Cannabis farm gang posed as utilities contractor

Gang jailed for 28 years after diverting power to more than 100 cannabis farms
2 days ago

Former Liverpool mayor charged in building contracts probe

Construction bosses also charged as part of Operation Aloft
2 days ago

Bidding to start for £700m Irish sea interconnector work

Work includes converter stations at Hunterston and Kilroot near Belfast
2 days ago

Muse to redevelop Durham County Hall HQ site

Morgan Sindall regen specialist seals another major development deal
2 days ago

Mace to transform Imperial College Great Hall

Work to start next month on ambitious refit
2 days ago

£100m plan to regenerate former Digbeth ironworks

Hartwell unveils 260,000 sq ft office and 240 homs plan
2 days ago

Legendre UK wins £21m London homes job for Clarion

Tower Hamlets building to be replaced due to building and fire safety issues
2 days ago

Construction buyers report fastest downturn since 2020

Double whammy of decreasing new orders and delayed projects
3 days ago

Bidders day for £15bn schools alliance framework

Online event to set out details of DfE alliancing framework procurement plan
3 days ago

MPs told safety regulator delays forcing industry job cuts

Industry chief warns housing select committee that BSR is now a main block on meeting housing targets
3 days ago

£600m delivery partner named for new hospital programme

Mace/T&T JV named programme delivery partner for £37bn new hospital plan
4 days ago

£230m Southampton waterfront scheme approved

Town Quay includes trio of 25 storey towers around new marina
3 days ago

Planning green light for £10bn Northumberland data centre

Blackstone-backed project will create 1,200 construction jobs
4 days ago

Bauhaus block above Southwark Station gets green light

Student accommodation and affordable housing scheme replaces original office plan
3 days ago

Police arrest plant hire fraud gang

Nine arrests after kit hired "with no intent of ever returning the machines"
4 days ago

Balfour Beatty boss Leo Quinn to step down

Group Chief Executive to be replaced by consultant AtkinsRéalis chief Philip Hoare
4 days ago

Galliford Try upgrades target as half-year profits jump 54%

Firm closes in on deal to take on ISG custodial work
4 days ago

Trespasser dies in crane fall at Willmott Dixon site

Tragedy after man breaks into £60m Manchester science park site
4 days ago

Ibstock pulls out of GRC cladding market

Materials giant blames subcontractor failures and low margins
4 days ago

Green light for 1,000-home Wolverhampton city centre regen

Phase one of ECF Smithgate scheme to start this year
4 days ago

Oval revises Manchester scheme with trio of towers

Flats doubled to 800 at reworked Albert Bridge House project
4 days ago

More repair work needed at McAlpine problem panel hotel

Contractor looking for long-term solution to loose panels
4 days ago

Redesign delays hit giant McAlpine car battery factory

Size of first building reduced and steelwork start pushed back
5 days ago

‘Affordable’ HS2 Crewe to Euston plan submitted to Treasury

Industry presses for scaled back Euston terminus and connection to Crewe
5 days ago

Regal submits plan to revive stalled London resi tower

Swiss Cottage project redesigned with second staircase and 237 flats
5 days ago

Construction boss jailed for siphoning off cash for casino

Money removed from contracting firms before they went under
6 days ago

Muse signs up to £3.2bn Solihull health campus district

Ambitious Arden Cross scheme next to HS2 Interchange advances
5 days ago

Drees & Sommer acquires RSP Consulting Engineers

Expanding consultant sees UK workforce grow to 300
5 days ago

Watkin Jones wins over £50m student digs campus upgrade

Work to start next month on phase 714-bed south London campus
6 days ago

Severfield warns on profits blaming major project delays

Steelwork firm cancels share buyback and steps up cost cutting programme
6 days ago

Contractor services