Business · 1 hour ago
Preston Fraudster Who Stole £33m Still Living Free in Dubai
Norlando Pobre, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Preston businessman convicted of a £33m VAT fraud is still living freely in Dubai, years after fleeing Britain. Arif Patel, who ran a sock and clothing firm, was convicted in his absence back in 2023 and ordered to repay more than £90m. No money has yet been recovered because he is challenging the confiscation order, leaving taxpayers out of pocket despite the court's ruling.
Reported by BBC News · How we write briefs