Tax payable on assassination plot profits

14 Jul 2016 02:44 PM

A £650,000 house is to be sold to meet the tax liability on cash payments linked to an alleged conspiracy, backed by Moammar Gaddafi, to assassinate the then Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

The High Court order for possession and sale of the house relates to payments received by Muhammad Al Massari, a political dissident and critic of the regime in Saudi Arabia, who has been living in the UK since 1994.

Al Massari received the cash payments between 2003 and 2004 from Abdurahman Muhammad Almoudi, one of Gaddafi’s agents. The NCA argued that the payments were the proceeds of crime and represented income upon which it could raise tax assessments, interest and penalties.

In September 2015, the NCA obtained a judgment debt of £595,841.24 which was subsequently secured against a house in Longfield Avenue, Wembley, allowing the NCA to issue a claim for possession and sale.

The property was frozen by the NCA last year when it launched High Court proceedings against Mr Al Massari for unpaid tax and national insurance contributions.

Stephanie Jeavons, Deputy Director of NCA’s Economic Crime Command, commented:

“Few people realise that the NCA has the power to disrupt criminality through the use of tax powers as well as through civil proceedings. These are very powerful weapons in our arsenal which do not necessarily require an existing conviction.

“This is a great result showing once again the unique and highly effective methods we have at our disposal to trace assets and hold criminals to account.”

Mr Al Massari, who was present and represented in Court when the Order was made on the 23rd June, had 21 days to appeal. He now has until the 18th August to move out. The NCA will market and sell the property to recover the tax owed.