Duo ordered to pay back scam funds
A couple who ran one of the UK's biggest MOT frauds, leading to
thousands of motorists being left with invalid insurance cover, have
been ordered to pay back more that £1.5 million.
In a hearing at Bradford Crown Court it was ruled that Roobik Mirzabegi and his wife Julie, both 52, must pay the amount they made from their scam to West Yorkshire Police.
The pair awarded thousands of fraudulent MOT certificates to unknowing drivers over a period of 13 years.
Mr Mirzabegi, of Beeston, Leeds, was jailed for four years in January after being convicted of three charges of conspiracy to defraud and one for concealing the proceeds of criminal conduct.
His wife, of Tingley, was imprisoned for two years after being found guilty of assisting another to retain the benefit of criminal conduct and obtaining services by deception. At an appeal hearing her sentence was reduced to 15 months.
A financial investigation was launched to find out how much the duo made from the scam, and it was ruled they must pay back a total of £1,511,530.98.