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Vast Rebate Fraud Alleged
Page 58
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TEN men and seven companies were charged at Croydon, Surrey, last week with conspiring to cheat and defraud the Crown out of the rebate of duty due to be repaid on diesel fuel used in road vehicles. Mr. John Hazan, prosecuting, said loss to the Revenue was 08,508. He also said another man who should have appeared, a German, was believed to have fled the country.
.Mr. Hazan alleged that Victor G. Churchill junior, of London, S.W., was not only the driving force behind the two main companies involved, but also, with Hans G. Sauter, of Croydon, "initiated the whole of this vast fraud ".
Accused in addition to Churchill and Sauter were: J. H. Churchill, Addiscombe; L. W. Churchill, Croydon; V. G. Churchill senior, Croydon; A. J. Londell, Chatham, Kent; Universal Fuel Oils Ltd.; Olympic Petroleum Co. Ltd.; J. E. Baker, Hatfield, Herts; J. E. Baker Transport (1959) Ltd.; Baker's Road Services Ltd.; Hillcrest Haulage Ltd.; J. Stock, Middleham Down, N.; Metro Taxi Cabs Ltd.; L. Margo, Streatham, S.W.; A. E. Proctor, Hanworth, Middlesex; and A. E. Proctor Ltd. Sauter was the man Mr. Hazan said had probably fled.
Outlining the case, Mr. Hazan said heavy oil included both gas oil and derv. There was no chemical distinction, but a duty of 2s. 7d. a gallon must be paid before it could be used in road vehicles as derv, selling between 3s. 74-d. and 3s. 81d. a gallon. Gas oil sold for about Is. 6d. a gallon. A chemical marker dye was introduced to show when the duty had been paid.
Mr. Hazan alleged that Olympic Petroleum and Universal Fuel Oils had been getting gas oil from the B.P. refinery on the Isle of Grain and selling it as dery for use in road vehicles. Many of the purchasers appeared as defendants, he said.
Inquiries had led Customs officers to Universal Fuel Oils and Olympic Petroleum, and searches were made of their premises, which disclosed that the companies had sold over 207,000 gallons of dery more than they were shown to have purchased, and some 177,000 gallons of gas oil purchased by the companies were not accounted for.
The hearing continued and is expected to last about six weeks.