4 YEARS FOR LIVERPOOL RESTAURATEURS IN £1.2M TAX & VAT FRAUD

27 Nov 2003 03:45 PM

CORRECTION

Brothers, Hamdi and Mohsen Bichara each pleaded guilty and were sentenced to four years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on 20 November 2003. The charges related to the defrauding both the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise. The loss to the Revenue is in excess of £785,000 and the loss of VAT to Customs more than £443,000.

The Bichara brothers are directors of a company, Fiestatime Ltd, which operates a busy and successful restaurant known as Uncle Sam's Bistro from Renshaw Street in central Liverpool. They have owned the restaurant since the late 1980's. The fraud had been on going since 1995 culminating in a raid by Customs and Excise on the restaurant premises and the Bichara's homes in February 2001.

The Bichara brothers were both interviewed under caution by officers from the Inland Revenue Special Compliance Office, Manchester, they admitted to failing to declare the correct receipts for the restaurant for a number of years. Following extensive further investigations by Revenue and Customs officers, it was established that the fraud was carried out by manipulating the tills within the restaurant to the extent that takings of £3.2 million were not recorded. These sums were used to pay tax-free wages to restaurant staff.

An Inland Revenue spokesman said today,

"The outcome of this case is an extremely good example of the investigation work undertaken between the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. The Inland Revenue is committed to uncovering fraud against the department. Others contemplating committing similar offences should be aware that they could face prosecution and should expect to be sentenced if found guilty. Additionally the Inland Revenue will seek to recover the money taken from the public purse".

NOTES FOR EDITORS

- This case concerns two brothers ;

Hamdi Bichara (60) of 1, Riverside View, Fulwood Park, Otterspool, Liverpool L17 5AT,

Mohsen Bichara (50) of 'Jordaan', South Drive, Sandfield Park, West Derby, Liverpool, L12 1LH.

- Both the brothers are fathers of two.

- The charges were two counts of common law cheat.

- No award for costs was made as this will be dealt with by a confiscation hearing on 19 December 2003.

- Media enquiries to David Gostelow on the numbers listed below.

Website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

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