2009 media releases
Two jailed for multi-million dollar tax fraud
4 November 2009
Two Auckland men behind multi-million dollar schemes in the agricultural industry have each been jailed for two years for tax evasion.
Rashid Karman Sufi and Aamir Farhan were sentenced today in the Auckland District Court after earlier admitting the charges.
In the past five years, 35 people, including Sufi and Farhan, have been convicted for fraud in the industry, involving nearly $35 million.
"These are the latest in a number of convictions for offending of this type, said Richard Philp, Assurance Manager, Investigations.
"We will continue to focus on this to ensure fraudsters are getting the message. It is not a matter of if they will be caught, but when."
"We are determined to see this type of fraud eliminated in the agricultural industry," said Mr Philp.
Sufi admitted 11 charges of tax evasion. An estimated $2,794,998 in GST and PAYE was evaded by companies Sufi was involved in.
Farhan pleaded guilty to 14 charges. Tax estimated at $1,061,708 was involved in his offending.
Both men were involved in schemes similar to others that had been operating in the agricultural industry for some time.
The schemes uncovered follow a similar pattern involving the creation of false invoices, which are used to reduce the liability for GST and PAYE.
For further information:
Catherine Delore
(04) 890 1698
(029) 890 1698
catherine.delore@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Structured finance cases settled
- Inland Revenue warns of party plan pitfalls
- Tax fraudster breached worker trust
- High wealth individuals pay an extra $81 million
- Residential rental property and depreciable items
- Lower Hutt man sentenced for tax evasion
- High Court ruling on Westpac case
- Christchurch man jailed for GST fraud
- Tsunami donations tax credits
- Former Queenstown man jailed on tax evasion charges
- Jail for $5 million tax fraud
- Tiler jailed for $1.6 million tax evasion
- Online service makes tax refunds easier
- Inland Revenue welcomes High Court decision
- Auckland property consultant jailed for tax fraud
- Te Kuiti accountant jailed for 12 months for tax evasion
- Property developer sentenced for GST fraud
- Wellington man sentenced for tax fraud
- Man jailed for GST fraud
- Helping you get it right
- Last day for tax returns fast approaching
- Auckland man sentenced on GST fraud charges
- GST fraudster convicted again
- New Plymouth woman jailed for fraud
- Christchurch man sentenced on tax offences
- Extradited tax fraudster sentenced to home detention
- Jail for multimillion dollar tax fraud
- Thousands of people eligible for unclaimed millions
- Inland Revenue appeals High Court decision
- Inland Revenue considers voluntary redundancies
- Talk to us, says Commissioner of Inland Revenue
- Apply now for the provisional tax ratio option
- Keep IRD numbers confidential
- Wellington accountant sentenced on tax fraud charges
- Avoid unexpected GST bills on apartment sales
- Nelson man jailed for tax evasion
- Stay informed about KiwiSaver changes
- Tax payment date fast approaching
- Former tax agent employee sentenced for fraud
Corporate Affairs
Inland Revenue
To make a media query:
Phone 04 890 1698 or email mediaqueries@ird.govt.nz
Please note, the email address is only for enquiries from the news media. It is monitored during normal business hours 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
P O Box 2198
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Date published: 10 Nov 2009
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