Dalkeith man in court accused of £31m VAT plot

A MIDLOTHIAN man, accused with nine others of a £31m VAT plot involving the sale of electrical goods via several different companies, appeared in court in London today.

Kenneth James Mackie, 45, of Old Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith, appeared for the first time at City of London Magistrates' Court and was sent to Southwark Crown Court to join his co-defendants, scheduled to appear on 15 December.

All were either directors or associates of the companies, which allegedly reclaimed VAT they were not entitled to and are now prosecuted by HM Revenue and Customs.

Mackie and his nine co-defendants are all charged that between 1 January, 2005 and 13 December, 2006, they conspired together and with others to defraud Revenue and Customs by defrauding them of money charged or reclaimed as VAT on the purported supply of electrical goods.

They are also charged with money laundering in that between 1 January, 2005 and 1 December, 2008 they conspired to transfer criminal property constituting or representing benefit from VAT fraud.
Mackie was bailed unconditionally.