Crook Michael Voudouri ordered to repay £1.3m of dirty money

Jul 6 2008 By Charles Lavery

TUBBY gangster Michael Voudouri has become Scotland's biggest scalp in the fight to claw back dirty money after being told to repay £1.3million.

The 40-year-old fraudster has been ordered to hand over the cash from a massive VAT scam.

He was convicted of raking in £3million from the computer chips con but Customs investigators believe he could have made 10 times that.

Heis set to forfeit assets include his £900,000 Old Manse home in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, a £393,000 house in Alloa, a part-share of a London flat, cash in accounts in Cyprus and Scotland and cars worth £100,000. Voudouri - who used his ill-gotten gains to fund a millionaire playboy lifestyle - insists he plans to appeal "all the way" to Europe.

He lives in a mansion home and ran a fleet of cars which included Bentleys, Ferraris and Porsches.

He hired Jordan and Chris Eubank for personal appearances and tried to impress lap-dancers by lighting cigars with burning £50 notes.

It took four years of costly legal hearings to secure the confiscation order. In 2004 Voudouri was jailed for four years for the massive VAT fraud.

His companies imported computer chips from Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg which were sold to him without VAT in line with EC rules.

He sold them on, adding 17.5 per cent VAT, but he never paid the tax.

One associate said: "Voudouri is playing games. The VAT fraud he was convicted for was worth £3million but that consignment was shipped three times earning £9million.

"And there were many, many more shipments. It's estimated that they got away with at least £20million - maybe as much as £30million."

But investigators have only been able to trace assets of £1.3million. Three judges at the Court of Session ruled on Wednesday Voudouri must pay that amount to the government.

Voudouri claimed the Old Manse belonged to his wife Chrystella but investigators proved he had bought it himself.

Last week's ruling is the latest twist in a long-running saga over Voudouri's dirty money. In the time that he has fought the case, it's estimated that the interest on his stolen fortune would cover a large chunk of the money owed.

In theory, investigators can target the fortunes of Mr Bigs who bankroll organised crime but cheat justice as they rarely get their hands dirty. But difficulties with Voudouri's case - and that of McGovern crime clan brother-in-law Russell Stirton - have undermined the legislation.

The Crown Office said: "This is the highest order in the history of theCRU and it is the final appeal in so far as the order is concerned."

But cocky Voudouri, speaking from his latest venture, the Athena Greek restaurant in Edinburgh, said: "I haven't lost anything yet.

"Surprise surprisewe lost the appeal but we're taking it to Europe. We're going all the way with it and I haven't paid a penny."

THE CASH

Barclays Bank (Account 1) £56,106

Barclays Bank (Account 2) £959

Bank of Cyprus £10,407

Bank of Scotland £25,950

SUNDAY EMAIL

c.lavery@sundaymail.co.uk