JEWELLER’S TAX FRAUDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 8

JEWELLER’S TAX FRAUDS

TWO YEARS IN PRISON. THOUSAND-POUND FINE. Two years’ imprisonment, with a fine of £lOOO, was the penalty imposed by Mr. Justice Horridge at Birmingham recently on Morris Spiro, aged 64, for making false statements in his returns to the Inland Revenue authorities. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. There were four charges, which went back to 1915. It was stated that until 1929 Spiro carried on business in Birmingham as a jeweller in his own name, and latterly under the name of Barnett. Brothers. He wag the owner of subsidiary companies. During the period covered by the indictment, it was alleged he should have paid in income tax, super tax, and excess profits £22,390. He paid £2655, so that the total tax evasion was £19,735. At the beginning of the proceedings there was paid on behalf of Spiro £7OOO, leaving £12,735 an paid* Defending counsel said that Spiro who was filled with contrition for the events of the past, did not agree that the figure stated represented the amount owing. All the money due would be paid. Spiro was an educated man. He was a Russian, and came to this country at an early age. “I must warn the public/’ said the judge, “that men cannot wickedly defraud the income tax authorities. A debt for income tax is just as much a debt as any other. Foolish people, who rather pride themselves on tricking the revenue, ought to know that if they do they will have appropriate punishment.”