Peters & Peters succeeds against HMRC in the largest ever MTIC Prosecution

Peters & Peters recently represented an exporter of mobile telephones charged with cheating the Revenue and money laundering in an MTIC fraud. HM Revenue & Customs described it as the largest MTIC prosecution bought, with alleged VAT losses of £250million. In this case HMRC took the unusual step of charging a number of exporters, as well as those more proximate to the misappropriation of VAT. Following careful analysis of the case against our client we successfully applied for dismissal of the charges at Southwark Crown Court, on the basis that the evidence was insufficient for a properly directed jury to convict. HMRC then sought to persuade a High Court Judge that there were grounds to use the exceptional procedure of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment to recommence the proceedings. We successfully opposed that application, resulting in an award of costs against HMRC.