20 Apr 2012 06:07 PM

A tax fraudster,who fled the UK four years ago after telling a judge in a note that he was unprepared to go to jail and found the idea frightening and upsetting, has been extradited from France and is beginning a six year prison term.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued a European Arrest Warrant for Mark Anthony McGovern (49) who jumped bail in the summer of 2008. It is believed he lived in Spain or Southern France until he was tracked down by the French authorities near Montpellier last month.

McGovern pleaded guilty to laundering £278,340.87 of criminal proceeds in April 2008, following a wider HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation into VAT fraud. However, he absconded and failed to attend Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing on 1 August 2008 and the Judge issued a warrant for his arrest. McGovern was later sentenced to two years imprisonment in his absence on 29 August 2008.

Martin Brown, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said:

“McGovern is finally facing UK justice after four years on the run. We are determined to pursue fugitives and ensure they face the consequences of their criminal activity. We can now begin to recover the proceeds of crime he laundered, which with daily interest currently stands at over £345,000. HMRC would like to thank those key UK and European partners who assisted with this operation, resulting in McGovern’s successful extradition.”

HMRC successfully applied for a confiscation order in relation to the £278,340.87 laundered. On 2 March 2009 a Judge ruled this money should be paid within 28 days, otherwise McGovern would have to serve a further four years in jail and still pay the money to HMRC.

HMRC will continue to seek recovery of these criminal profits.

In a letter of 1 April 2008 to His Honour Judge Van de Bijl, McGovern explained his non-attendance at court for sentencing saying he was unprepared to go to jail and found the thought “frightening and upsetting”.

McGovern concluded his note by saying “I was totally amazed at the scope of the ‘criminal lifestyle’ legislation and have been unable to ready myself for this and feel it would be an impossible job from a prison cell…I…assure your Honour that I will hand myself in as soon as I have completed this task.”

Four years later he was still on the run. He was finally tracked down and arrested by French authorities in the village of Neffiès , near Montpellier, on 28 March 2012.

In addition to his main rented home near Sandbanks, Dorset, McGovern owns a £420,000 property in Chigwell, Essex.

Notes to Editors

1. Mark Anthony McGOVERN (12.09.62) previously of 40 Dorset Lake Avenue, Poole, Dorset was extradited to the UK, via Gatwick Airport, on 16 April 2012. He was jailed following an appearance at Canterbury Crown Court on the same date. 2. McGovern was arrested by French Police at a residential property in Neffiès, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France on 28 March 2012, and appeared at Montpellier’s Public Prosecutors Office of the Court of Appeal on 3 April 2012. 3. At Canterbury Crown Court on 15 April 2008 McGovern pleaded guilty to transferring £278,340.87 of criminal property, contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. 4. The money was part of the proceeds of a £7 million VAT fraud, which saw another individual convicted of Cheating the Public Revenue and money laundering. 5. McGovern was due to be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 1 August 2008, but failed to attend. He sent the Judge a letter of apology. The Judge issued a warrant for McGovern’s arrest. 6. McGovern was sentenced to two years imprisonment in his absence at Canterbury Crown on 29 August 2008. 7. On 2 March 2009 a confiscation order for £278,340.87 was made at Canterbury Crown Court. With daily interest this figure currently stands at over £345,000. 8. McGovern will appear at Canterbury Crown Court during week commencing 14 May 2012 in relation to the Bail Act offence for failure to surrender to that court on 1 August 2008. 9. In 2002, in a separate case, McGovern was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of Conspiracy to Defraud and received a two year prison sentence. The offence had been committed in 1997, but McGovern had fled to Belgium and was arrested there in March 2001. He was extradited to the UK to face trial.

Contacts:

Lisa Billard
Phone: 02380 797587
lisa.billard@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

Bob Gaiger
Phone: 01404 811532
bob.gaiger@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

HMRC Out of Hours
Phone: 07860 359544
news.reply@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk