Ipswich businessman must repay £20,000 over cigarettes

Amir Sarawan, of Norwich Road, Ipswich, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, October 16, for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The 47-year-old previously admitted being knowingly involved with tobacco products on which duty hadn't been paid and possessing criminal property namely £16,600 and $1,500 and was jailed for 28 months in December last year.

On Monday, the court heard that his benefit from his offending was £174,813 but his available assets were only £20,714.

Judge David Pugh made a confiscation order in the sum of £20,714.

Also before the court were Semko Mohamed, 50, of Wicklow Road, Ipswich and Farang Yasin, of Waterloo Road, Ipswich.

Semko Mohamed Picture: Suffolk Police (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Mohamed had admitted being knowingly involved with tobacco products on which duty hadn't been paid and was jailed for 25 months in December.

Yasin admitted the same offence as well as possessing criminal property, namely £9,000 and was given a ten month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a six month curfew and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work.

Judge Pugh adjourned the confiscation hearing in respect of Mohamed and Yasin until November 28.

Jailing Sarawan and Mohamed last year, Judge Emma Peters said they had been in control of the operation which involved the fraudulent evasion of £146,000 of excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco brought into the UK illegally.

She said said it was necessary to pass deterrent sentences as law abiding businesses suffered as a result of being undercut by shops selling illicit cigarettes and tobacco.