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Four men get 27-year sentences for £28 million phone and chip fraud


• Kent-based gang used company for import and export VAT fiddle By Samantha Tomaszczyk


Four men have been sentenced to over 27 years in prison for their


part in a £28 million


“missing trader” fraud case involving mobile phones and computer chips.


The gang traded under a Kent- based company called Amber Communications Management (ACM)*,


importing products


to the UK from Europe and the US. However, they failed to inform UK authorities that the products were being sold on to traders in Dubai and Switzerland so that they could fraudulently claim VAT repayments of around 20 per cent from HMRC. HMRC became suspicious after paying out £10 million to the four men – money that was spent on luxury cars including a Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and a BMW, as well as luxury holidays in Dubai and Florida. When claims were made for a further £18 million, HMRC


Bell, Smith, Murray and Slater: Luxury cars and holidays


began investigating ACM, asking for documents to prove it was entitled to VAT relief. This evidence could not be provided and court proceedings began.


Disqualified HMRC’s “Operation Chert” found Ross Bell (42), Brian Murray (49), Lonnie Smith (52) and Garry Slater (43) – all based in Kent at the time of the fraud – were responsible. They were all sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on April 10 following conviction in February. Bell was a company director


of ACM and received an eight- year sentence for cheating the public revenue, and five


years for money laundering, to run concurrently. He was also disqualified from being a director for eight years. Murray, also a director of


ACM, was sentenced to seven and a half years for cheating the public revenue and a further four and a half years for money laundering,


concurrently. He


was also disqualified from acting as a director for eight years.


Smith acted as company secretary


for ACM and was


imprisoned for six and a half years for cheating the public revenue and a further five years concurrent for money laundering.


He was also


disqualified from being a director for eight years. Slater, a graphic designer,


worked as a trader for ACM. He was jailed for five and a half years for cheating the public revenue. HMRC assistant director criminal investigations John Cooper said: “This fraud made huge profits for the gang members at the expense of UK taxpayers. “The techniques used by


HMRC officers in this long and complex investigation have resulted in the successful prosecution and imprisonment of those involved. We will now seek to recover the profits of the crime.”


The tax authority managed to stop £18 million of the claimed repayments and has initiated “confiscation proceedings” to reclaim the remainder.


*Not related to Amber Communications (UK) Ltd or Amber Communications FZ LLC


www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Issue 562, April 21, 2014 News


Wyra urges entrepreneurs.04 Morley quits Motorola ......06 Azzuri MDM launch ...........06 Olive Comms invests.........08 EC bans roaming charges.08 O2 partners Exertis ...........10


Columns Backslap/Opinion............16


Features Galaxy S5.....................16


Gadget Show Live.........12 Brightstar 20:20...........22


Regulars Mystery Caller...................30


Mystery Shopper...............32 Window Shopping.............36 Data Centre ......................37 Unified Comms.................38


Vodafone to overhaul targets and partner tiering


Vodafone is in consultations with its dealers over proposals for a major overhaul to its partner programme, which is expected to see its current tiering system scrapped. According to dealers, a new partner programme is being created, which will be measured on the quantity of the operator’s services they sell (mobile, fixed, IT), rather than simply the total amount billed on a monthly basis.


For example, to achieve and


maintain Platinum Partner status, a dealer is required to achieve £260,000 per month in billing – with around 10 per cent coming from sales of One Net.


Key role Vodafone, which acquired Cable & Wireless for £1 billion in 2012, is expected to introduce a number of additional IT and fixed line- based services throughout the


year, which will play a key role in the firm’s future strategy. Dealers


will be consulted


about the changes in the coming months, with the plan to introduce the new structure from April 2015. Early discussions suggest the current Platinum, Gold and Silver tier programmes will be axed when the new targets come into place. Details on the new structure are yet to be decided – but are expected


Gusto Telecom lands Three accessory supply deal for Juice phone chargers


Gusto Telecom Solutions has signed a deal with operator Three to sell its Juice phone chargers in its 345 stores and online.


It means the product (pictured) is now on sale across more than 3,000 stores in the UK, with Gusto Telecoms Solutions having already signed deals with DSGi (298 Currys and PC World outlets), John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse, O2,


Staples, Sainsbury’s and


Fonehouse. There are seven Juice chargers


in the range, compatible across all major manufacturers. Each charger is packaged in a drinks carton with the tagline “Juice for your mobile”. Mains chargers cost £9.99, £12.99 and the


car chargers


Lightning (iPhone) charger costs £19.99.


Unique packaging Gusto Telecom Solutions managing director Jolyon Bennett said: “Retailers continue to be attracted to the Juice charger’s


22


Brightstar 20:20 Brightstar 20:20 was officially unveiled at a luxury event in London on April 2 in front of 200 industry guests. MD Jim Michel revealed late bids failed to derail Brightstar’s purchase of 20:20 Mobile and explained its reasons for buying it, while CCS Insight gave insight into the future of wearables and 4G.


unique packaging and clever marketing.” A Three spokeswoman added:


“Juice’s


packaging design stands out and its products will offer our customers more choice.”


Dunne: Optimisation


to be designed to better reflect the capabilities and expertise offered by that partner.


Capabilities One gold partner said: “You’ve got platinum gold and silver – but to a customer that doesn’t mean a huge amount. They’re going to change it to reflect their capabilities, so the customer gets a clearer idea about their credentials.”


Continued from page 1 chief


executive of Elitetele.


com, said it was attracted to Qualitel due to its customer base focus on the IT sector, such as workflow applications, which it deems a huge growth area. He said: “This is our second acquisition of a premium Vodafone partner, strengthening our mobile offering to business clients and reinforcing our significance to the mobile networks.” “With offices in the North, South


and Midlands we are building on our national presence.” Elite was advised on the deal


by Gareth McIntegart, DLA Piper while Murray Macnab of Ellis- Fermor & Negus advised the shareholders of Qualitel.


12


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Gadget Show Live Fitness trackers for dogs, rings that can unlock your phone and hearing aids that connect to your smartphone to stream voice calls were among the innovations on display at this year’s Gadget Show Live. Mobile News takes a look at the latest technology to come to the UK.


“The space that seems to be the hottest right now is wearables. However, my fear is that we could be embarking on a journey of hype.”


Ben Wood, chief of research, CCS Insight


See page 24 Tel 020 7278 0795


Editor Michael Garwood michaelg@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Reporter Paul Withers paulw@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Reporter Samantha Tomaszczyk samanthat@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Reporter Pádraig McGarrigle paddym@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Designer Andy Hemming andyh@mobilenewscwp.co.uk Sub-editor Roy Shipston


Contributors Brad Rees, Ashley Turner


Editorial Director Ian White ianw@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Business Development and Advertising Manager Garry Wybourn garry.wybourn@mobilenewscwp.co.uk Tel: 0203 122 0872


Editorial & Advertising Address Mobile News, Clark White Publications Ltd, 8-10 Godson Street, Islington, N1 9GZ


Editorial Email Address editorial@mobilenewscwp.co.uk


Subscriptions 01737 457158


Rates at www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk. Published by Clark White Publications Ltd. Registration 2653326. Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Telford. © CWP Ltd. Material may not be reproduced without permission. Mobile News (ISSN-0964-9468) is available on Subscription: £79.50 a year (UK), £125 (Europe), £250 (rest of world). Circulation 6,100 average (ABC audited for the 12 months to December 2011)


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