Called to account: August 2020

In this month’s scandals, convictions and penalties, first arrest over fraud involving the furlough scheme, boss banned for paying himself bonuses as the company went into liquidation, and restaurateurs served with bans over tax failures

First arrest over £495K ‘furlough fraud’

A West Midlands man has been arrested in connection with a suspected £495,000 fraud involving the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the first such action over potential furlough fraud.

HMRC officers executed a search warrant yesterday) in the Solihull area and arrested the 57-year-old.

Computers and other digital devices were seized, and funds held in a bank account relating to his business have been frozen.

The man was also arrested in relation to a suspected multi-million pound tax fraud and alleged money laundering offences.