Christian businessmen are jailed for tax fraud
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TWO EVANGELICAL Christian businessmen who held regular prayer meetings in their office have been jailed for cheating the Inland Revenue out of pounds 130,000.
Philip Raisey, 39, and Stephen Wright, 40, sang gospel songs in their City of London dealing room at a time when they were carrying out the fraud, an Old Bailey jury was told.
They were respectively chairman and company secretary of securities dealers Fox Milton.
Judge Brian Capstick jailed them for six months, saying that despite their former good characters and religious beliefs they had to face a deterrent sentence.
'This was a fraud on the innocent tax-paying public,' he said. The two men embarked on a 'consistent plan' to cheat the Inland Revenue.
He ordered them to pay pounds 30,000 each towards the costs of the case after hearing that the police investigation and three-month trial cost pounds 645,248.
Raisey, of Chislehurst, Kent, and Wright, of Sevenoaks, Kent, were convicted of conspiring to cheat the Queen and the public revenue.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments