Today [15 April 2015] at Croydon Crown Court Patrick Mbogo was sentenced to six years for being knowingly concerned in fraudulent evasion of excise duty. Mr Mbogo was an employee of the Ugandan High Commission in London between 2006 and 2010.
Lisa Rose, specialist fraud lawyer at the CPS said:
“Patrick Mbogo has been sentenced to six years for evading excise and VAT duties of £4.8m over a three year period. Mr Mbogo was a locally employed member of staff at the Ugandan High Commission where he ordered nearly 28.5 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco duty and tax free. Diplomats are entitled to duty and tax free tobacco in quantities for personal use - Patrick Mbogo did not have diplomatic status and the quantities he was ordering were clearly not for personal use. He ordered this tobacco with another defendant, exploiting the privileges afforded to diplomats, and continued to do so after his contract ended in 2010.
“He abused the trust placed in him by his employer and cheated the public purse of over £4.8m.
“We would like to thank the Ugandan High Commission for their cooperation in this case.”
