Taxi Driver Online

Former Leicestershire magistrate and his wife admit their part in £250,000 fraud



A former Leicestershire magistrate and his wife have admitted being part of a £250,000 tax fraud and money laundering operation.

Taxi boss Zaher Somani, 57, of Quorn, and wife Ashraf used some of the money to fund private education for their children and to maintain their property portfolio.

The pair, of White Street, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court last week to charges relating to being jointly involved in tax evasion totalling £250,000 for self assessment income tax fraud, unpaid VAT and tax credits fraud.

The court heard how Somani was the sole proprietor of two Loughborough taxi companies trading as A1 and Charnwood Taxis in 2008 that operated 30 private hire vehicles.

Somani, who was a serving magistrate when he was arrested, employed his 43-year-old wife and his brother Pyarali Somani at the firm.

Investigators from the HM Revenue and Customs department found Somani suppressed his true income on his self-assessment tax returns between 2007 and 2011.

His wife, other family and some employees also helped conceal company earnings.

The couple shared the profits from the tax evasion while spending huge amounts on property, private schools for their children, casino gambling and maintaining foreign bank accounts.

Somani falsely declared his family income was so low that his wife, claimed tax credits as well.

The court was told that HMRC investigations revealed that he had a property portfolio of homes in the UK and overseas, and kept hidden bank accounts in Jersey, Canada, India, Turkey and Morocco.

HMRC evidence during his trial showed he had an extensive property portfolio in the UK and abroad, several bank accounts around the world and substantial casino accounts.

The couple claimed that she worked part-time at the taxi companies for a small wage, while claiming tax credits at the same time she handled huge sums of money through her accounts and at casinos.

Pyarali Somani, 61, of Mayo Close, Loughborough, worked as a taxi driver for both companies.

He pleaded guilty to charges relating to self assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000.

His wife Shabina Somani, 49, also of Mayo Close, admitted counts of tax credits fraud jointly with her husband totalling £16,049.

Darren Green, 43, of Beaumanor Road, near Abbey Lane, Leicester, was employed by Somani as a taxi driver.

He admitted income tax fraud and fraudulently claiming tax credits worth £11,229, and admitted his involvement in tax evasion totalling £250,000.

After the case, an HMRC spokesperson said: “Zaher Somani lived well beyond his means, or so it seemed, until HMRC uncovered this fraud.

“Our investigators work together with partner agencies to identify tax evasion by individuals and businesses who think they can live and operate outside the law.

“Somani and his family failed to pay their full taxes at the expense of honest taxpayers.

“The message is clear - if you choose to defraud the tax system or claim benefits you are not entitled to, we can and will track you down.”

They will all be sentenced next year.


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leice ... z3G6EDsIB2

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Former town magistrate guilty of tax fraud


Zaher Somani, aged 57, of White Street, Quorn, was involved in the scam with his wife, brother, sister-in-law and a driver, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation found.


A FORMER Loughborough magistrate who owns a town taxi company is set to be sentenced for taking part in a £250,000 tax fraud and money laundering operation.

Zaher Somani, aged 57, of White Street, Quorn, was involved in the scam with his wife, brother, sister-in-law and a driver, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation found.

HMRC says that Somani is the sole proprietor of two Loughborough taxi companies trading as A1, of Nottingham Road, and Charnwood Taxis.

He employed his wife, Ashraf, 43, at the firm and his brother, Pyarali Somani, 61, of Mayo Close, Loughborough, as a driver.

HMRC investigators found Somani suppressed his true income on his self-assessment tax returns between 2007 and 2011.

HMRC said his wife, other family and some employees also helped conceal company earnings and shared the profits from the tax evasion while spending huge amounts on property, private schools for their children, casino gambling and maintaining foreign bank accounts.

The investigation also found Somani falsely declared his family income was so low that his wife claimed tax credits while handling huge sums of money through her accounts and at casinos.

Investigations revealed that Somani had a property portfolio of homes in the UK and overseas, and kept hidden bank accounts in Jersey, Canada, India, Turkey and Morocco.

They pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court. Confiscation proceedings will follow and the sentencing will take place on January 15 next year.

HMRC says that Somani, a former magistrate in the Loughborough area, and his wife were jointly involved in tax evasion totalling £250,000 for self assessment income tax fraud, unpaid VAT and tax credits fraud.

And that his brother Pyarali Somani was responsible for self assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000.

They also said Pyarali’s wife Shabina Somani, aged 49, a council employee admitted counts of Tax Credits fraud jointly with her husband totalling £16,049.

And that Darren Green, aged 43, of Beaumanor Road, Leicester, employed by Somani as a taxi driver, admitted income tax fraud and fraudulently claiming tax credits worth £11,229, and admitted his involvement in tax evasion totalling £250,000.

A spokeswoman for HMRC told the Echo: “Zaher Somani lived well beyond his means, or so it seemed, until HMRC uncovered this fraud.

“Our investigators work together with partner agencies to identify tax evasion by individuals and businesses who think they can live and operate outside the law.

“Somani and his family failed to pay their full taxes at the expense of honest taxpayers.

“The message is clear - if you choose to defraud the tax system or claim benefits you are not entitled to, we can and will track you down.”

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/lo ... ud-8056267

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Disgraced former magistrate jailed for tax fraud and money laundering



A disgraced former magistrate who lived a life of luxury on the proceeds of tax fraud and money laundering has been jailed.

Zaher Somani, a former magistrate in Loughborough, built up a huge property portfolio, sent his children to private schools and frequented casinos on the back of his crimes.

However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigators unmasked him as a tax evader and he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday to be jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Four co-conspirators, including his wife, appeared alongside the 58-year-old and were all given suspended prison sentences.

Shoplifter gave friend's name to police after stealing from Debenhams in Highcross, Leicester

The court heard Somani, of White Street, Quorn, committed the offences while he was the owner of two Loughborough minicab companies, A1 and Charnwood 'Taxis', which operated 30 private hire vehicles.

HMRC investigators found between 2004 and 2011, he concealed his true income on self-assessment tax returns.

The scale of the fraud was estimated at £250,000.

Family members helped hide his firms’ earnings by using bank accounts and assets in Jersey, Canada, India, Turkey and Morocco.

Somani’s wife Ashraf (43), brother Pyarali (61), sister-in-law Shabina (50) and officer manager Darren Green (44) were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy.

Sentencing, Judge Sampson said: “Zaher Somani lied to the bitter end and has been shamed and disgraced.

“The offending spanned many years while sitting as a magistrate, pretending to be a man of integrity and honesty. The hypocrisy could not have been greater.”

Stuart Taylor, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: “Zaher Somani was a serving magistrate at the time of these offences, a man supposed to uphold the law.

“Instead, he was stealing from the taxpayer.

“This man and his family lived well beyond their legitimate means, until HMRC uncovered their extensive tax evasion, associated money laundering and benefit fraud.

“Somani and his family failed to pay their full taxes, at the expense of honest taxpayers.”

Zaher’s wife, Ashraf Somani, 44, also of White Street, Quorn, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. Along with her husband, she admitted tax evasion totalling £250,000 for self assessment income tax fraud, unpaid VAT and tax credits fraud.

Zaher’s brother, Pyarali Somani, (61), of Mayo Close, Loughborough, worked as a taxi driver for both companies. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. He admitted self assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000.

Pyarali’s wife, Shabina Somani, (51), also of Mayo Close, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. She admitted tax credits fraud jointly with her husband totalling £16,049.

Taxi driver Darren Green, (43), of Beaumanor Road, Leicester, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and given a nine-month supervision order. He admitted income tax fraud and fraudulently claiming tax credits worth £11,229 and involvement in tax evasion totalling £250,000.


Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Disgr ... z3QUgWsZTj

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Open prison with leave to work on the outside. Hardly punishment is it?

I would imagine his huge property portfolio will soon be a tad smaller.

Else he will spend a lot longer inside.

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