A conveyancer from Harrow, who defrauded both his clients and HMRC of almost £352,500 in stamp duty land tax (SDLT), has been jailed for three years and four months following an HMRC investigation
Anthony Maragh falsified paperwork in order to undervalue his clients’ properties so that the amount of tax owed was reduced. However, he charged clients the full amount of SDLT and kept the difference.
The HMRC investigation found that between 2008 and 2013, Maragh under-declared the SDLT due on 43 property transactions, transferring £297,000 directly from the solicitor’s company accounts into his personal bank account. He also spent a further £55,000 directly from the client account on collectable antique Chinese gold bonds.
Martin Brown, assistant director, fraud investigation service, HMRC said: ‘As a conveyancer, Maragh knew only too well that he was breaking the law and what the consequences of his actions would be. He abused the trust of his clients, stealing money that had been paid by them in good faith to meet their tax liabilities, to line his own pockets.’
On sentencing Marah the judge at the Old Bailey said: ‘This was repeated offending and an abuse of position and trust with a large number of victims exposed to risk.’
Confiscation proceedings to recover the proceeds of crime are underway.
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