UK hunts three tax cheats in Dubai

From left: Hussain Asad Chohan, Nasser Ahmed and Adam Umerji, alias Shafiq Patel, have all been convicted in absentia and are thought to be in Dubai.

Three of the UK's most wanted tax fugitives owing more than Dh2.4 billion are believed to be living in the UAE.

The men - Hussain Asad Chohan, Nasser Ahmed and Adam Umerji, also known as Shafiq Patel - have all been convicted in absentia and are thought to be in Dubai.

Their pictures and personal details have been published by the UK's HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) along with 17 others who are in the top 20 wanted list for crimes that include tax evasion, money laundering, smuggling and fraud.

The 20 are believed to owe the British Treasury around £765m (Dh4.4 billion).

Some of them have been convicted in absentia, while others face a warrant for their arrest but have yet to stand trial.

HMRC released the photographs online yesterday for the first time in the hope the public can help track them down.

One of the men thought to be living in Dubai, Hussain Asad Chohan, 44, was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court for his role in an estimated £200m fraud which included importing 2.25 tonnes of tobacco worth £750,000 in duty.

He was found guilty in absentia and sentenced to 11 years for smuggling and fraud and for failing to appear in court. He has also been served with a £33m confiscation order.

Nasser Ahmed, who is thought to either be in Dubai or Pakistan, was convicted at Bristol Crown Court in 2005 for his role in a large scale VAT fraud worth around £156m.

The 40-year-old, who fled before the verdict was handed down, was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.

Adam Umerji, 34, the man also known as Shafiq Patel, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 12 years for VAT fraud and money laundering. His crimes were estimated to have cost the UK taxpayer around £64m.

The deputy director for the Wanted Department at Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Major Saeed Al Saadi, said he did not recognise the names of the men but that he was "sure we have these people in our system".

He said the CID's strategy in this situation was to work "very closely" with the British Embassy in Dubai and Interpol.

"If they are wanted and there is a warrant for their arrest, we will search for the men and catch them," Maj Al Saadi said.

According to Maj Al Saadi, the procedure for extradition to the UK was to send suspects to the Dubai Public Prosecutor.

"The judge decides on the extradition," he said, adding that "many people from the UK are wanted in Dubai".

According to a spokesman from HMRC, fugitives are traced and "where necessary" extradited to the UK.

The spokesman did not give details of the methods used to track fugitives "for security and operational reasons", however, he urged the public to report any sightings.

He added that the extradition process was "complicated and in some cases not legally possible. However, HMRC is determined to relentlessly pursue those who steal from and cheat the public purse".

The first person to be extradited from the UAE to Britain was Jeleel Ahmed, 28, in May 2010, two years after the extradition treaty was signed in 2008. He was convicted of killing a disabled man.

The treaty allows extradition to be requested for any offence which would result in a maximum penalty of at least 12 months in both the UK and the UAE.

* See the full list, with pictures, here.