The man was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison for serious financial fraud, tax evasion and fraud against the Norwegian NAV office. The man was originally sentenced by an Oslo court in July 2022. After his appeal, he has now been sentenced by the appellate court on the same charges and to the same sentence as in the court of first instance - we read on the Økokrim website
This case is part of a larger legal and criminal complex directed at against courier industry. The investigation was conducted by Oslo police and the crime scene unit economic crime (Økokrim) in cooperation with the Tax Service.
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Fictitious activity covering up illegal work
The male-run company had only two cars available for part of its existence, and only a few registered employees. It was way below that number of employees needed to perform all assigned transport tasks. These tasks seemed to be delegated to a number of subcontractors, mainly sole traders. The investigation found that there were no workers employed by the subcontracting companies and that the companies did not own or rent sufficient vehicles to perform these tasks.
Nevertheless, the transport tasks were actually performed, but not by the named subcontracting companies. Like the court of first instance, the court of appeal concluded that the people performing these tasks were working illegally. Additionally, it was found that the subcontractors were not real enterprises, but links used to launder money obtained as a result of criminal acts.
Serious financial fraud, tax evasion and welfare fraud
The managing director of the transport company was aware that the subcontracting companies had no employees and therefore could not perform the assigned transport tasks. The invoices from subcontractors were therefore fictitious. Despite this, the managing director caused the transport company to pay about 6 millions crowns to subcontractors based on false invoices. Left convicted of tax evasion in so far as he ensured that the company's financial statements required the deduction of value added tax, which the company paid on the basis of fictitious invoices.
The man was also convicted of wire fraud social benefits, because he received vocational rehabilitation benefits (AAP) in the amount of over 240 kroner. At the same time, he was working illegally as a kierowca courier in your own company.
– The financial fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion that we saw in this case is very harmful to society and undermines the foundations of companies that want to operate legally. This makes it difficult for drivers in this industry to work legally, said Anne Line Grøstad, prosecutor in Økokrim.
– When the owner or manager of the company commits financial fraud against your own company, the risk of detection is low. Therefore, from the point of view of general prevention, it is important to maintain a strict level of penalties in such cases, Grøstad added.
Consequences for society
This type of crime also means that the average consumer, by paying for a seemingly legal task, unknowingly contributes to supporting illegal work. Employees carrying out transport orders did not pay tax on your income, and were also able to retain their NAV benefits until they were discovered.
The verdict is not final.
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Source: Økokrim
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