R v M & Ors – 2011 & 2012- (Operation Vara) (Fraud)
Lead Junior Defending. Successfully defended a man accused of evasion of import Duty and VAT on gold jewellery.
Over £8 million evasion involving an international investigation which moved from the UK to Europe, on to India and Dubai.
This was a case involving a conspiracy to evade import duty and VAT payable on the importation of gold jewellery. In total over £8 million was said to have been evaded. Mr Martin was led in this case by Mr Leon Kazakos and represented a defendant accused of being one of the men responsible for importing the gold Jewellery from Dubai into Frankfurt. The fraud involved the handover of the gold to another member of the conspiracy who would then import into the UK passing off the import as intra-EU trade and therefore VAT exempt. Some of these activities were observed by a covert intelligence unit of the German Police. The case involved complex VAT legal questions as well as jurisdictional issues.
Following 4 Trials the defendant was acquitted of all charges.
Leon Kazakos (2 Hare Court) and James Martin (5 Kings Bench Walk) instructed Counsel.
