Fugitive tax fraudster imprisoned after being caught in Spain

Lawrence Goldberg

A FUGITIVE tax fraudster is starting a six year prison sentence after being extradited to the UK from Spain for failing to repay £1.5 million (€1.7m).

Leib Berger, previously known as Lawrence Goldberg, was originally jailed for two years in 2011 for stealing more than €1 million through Self Assessment tax fraud.

The 53-year-old would pose as a nominated tax agent and hijack people’s identities as well as create other clients to send fraudulent tax returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

When ordered to repay almost £250,000 by December 2013, the South African fled to Spain.

While he was at large, HMRC investigations revealed he had accrued further assets bringing his confiscation order up to £1.5 million, and his prison sentence was amended to six years.

Berger was eventually tracked down and arrested in Spain February this year, and he was extradited to the UK on February 21.

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