Friday, October 15, 2010, 09:20

http://www.thisissuttoncoldfield.co.uk/news/Men-face-years-jail-fail-pay-163-800-000/article-2760366-detail/article.html

THREE men convicted of money laundering have been ordered to repay more than £800,000 between them or face further prison sentences totalling nearly nine years.

Harvinder Singh Batth, aged 34, formerly of Roman Lane, Little Aston; Suckjit Singh Birring, aged 38, of Weeford Drive, Sutton; and Jatinder Singh Salh, aged 37, of Harvestfields Lane, Sutton, were jailed in 2008 for their part in an operation which used casinos to launder the proceeds of criminal activity, including VAT fraud.

Following the confiscation order at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday, they have also seen assets restrained, including property, high-performance cars and designer jewellery. The hearing, which followed an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), gave the men six months to pay up.

Singh Batth, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence, must pay £500,000 or serve a further three-and-a-half years in prison. Restrained assets include a home in Roman Lane and designer jewellery.

Singh Birring, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years, must pay £200,000 or return to prison and serve the same amount again.

A Weeford Drive property, a BMW X5 sports car, a VW Golf GT TDI car and £20,000 cash are among the assets targeted by HMRC.

Singh Salh was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

He must return to serve a further 30 months unless he pays £136,637 within six months; £10,162 of which must be paid within two months.

A Harvestfields Way property, an additional property in Spain and £59,000 cash are also in the sights of HMRC.

A fourth man from Walsall, currently serving seven-and-a-half years in prison, must pay £55,292 or serve a further 18 months.

Richard Meadows, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: "This case shows our determination and success in bringing to justice the criminals behind VAT fraud and money laundering, then taking away the proceeds of their crime."