and this bloke became a magistrate 
A DISGRACED former magistrate who swindled the public purse out of more than £250,000 has been given three months to pay it back or face further jail time.
Zaher Somani, who served as a magistrate in Loughborough, used cash from his crimes to fund a life of luxury – including private schools for his children, a large property portfolio and frequent visits to casinos.
The 60-year-old – formerly of White Street, Quorn –was jailed for three-an-a-half years in 2015 after pleading guilty to tax fraud and money laundering at Nottingham Crown Court, reported the Leicester Mercury
Members of the former taxi firm owner’s family were also sentenced for their part in the conspiracy.
A spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said: “Zaher Somani was jailed for tax fraud and money laundering in 2015, after an investigation found he lied about his income and hid the profits from his two Loughborough taxi companies in offshore bank accounts.
“Somani’s brother Pyarali and other family members were also sentenced in 2015 for their part in the conspiracy.”
Taxi driver Pyarali Somani was responsible for self assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000, which paid for his two daughters to go to private school, the court heard.
Confiscation orders were granted against the pair at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday.
Somani must repay a total of £254,375 within three months – plus £54,000 costs – or face another two years in prison.
His brother Pyarali (64), of Mayo Close, Loughborough, was ordered to pay £188,812, in addition to £28,000 costs.
Somani had owned two Loughborough taxi firms – A1 and Charnwood Taxis – and had 30 private hire vehicles at the time of the tax fraud.
The HMRC spokesman said: “He lied about his earnings on Self Assessment returns while family members helped hide his company’s profits.
“The family purchased property in Canada, Turkey and Morocco as well as putting cash in offshore bank accounts across the world.”
He added: “They shared the profits from the scam with huge amounts being spent on property, private schools and gambling.”
Speaking after Monday’s court hearing, Stuart Taylor – assistant director of HMRC’s fraud investigation service – welcomed the judge’s decision.
He said: “Somani had the audacity to sit in judgement on others while living a life funded by crime.
“He and his brother are being stripped of their illegal profits.”
Mr Taylor added: “We will ensure tax fraudsters pay money back to the honest majority they stole from.
“They cannot be allowed to take funding from our public services.”
Anyone with information about tax fraud should contact the HMRC Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
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