Prison for Restaurateur who fails to Pay Back

A Cardiff restaurateur was sentenced to three years 3 months imprisonment on Thursday 13th March by Cardiff Magistrates for failing to fully pay a confiscation order made at the Cardiff Crown Court in February 2007.

In 2004 the man and his wife, who ran the Happy Gathering Restaurant in Cowbridge Road, Cardiff were arrested by officers from the Regional Asset Recovery Team on suspicion of money laundering. In May of 2005, they both pleaded guilty to concealing criminal property which involved an elaborate fraud by diverting restaurant money into bank accounts in both the UK and Hong Kong. Both received short prison sentences, the wife's being suspended for 12 months.

In February 2007, they were ordered to repay £1.2 million and £300,000 respectively, the amount each had benefited from their fraud; with an additional penalty of 5 years imprisonment on default. Although one of the Orders was paid in full, only £420,000 had been paid against the £1.2 million Order and the custodial sentence passed yesterday was pro-rata in default of the outstanding £780,000. This amount will still remain to be paid even after the default sentence has been served.

Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Dodd, Head of Regional Asset Recovery Team for Wales said:

"This has been a long and difficult enquiry. The Proceeds of Crime Act has real teeth but the impact of the legislation is only seen when the criminal assets are finally repaid to the court. In this case the offender was given many opportunities and a significant period of time to satisfy the order; a view the court agreed with. Prison is a proper consequence for those who fail to pay court orders. We will continue to pursue the outstanding amount."