Arif Patel, a notorious tax fraudster, has lost his appeal against a confiscation order requiring him to repay over £90 million. Patel, who has been on the run since 2011, was convicted in absentia for various crimes, including VAT fraud and money laundering, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023.
The Court of Appeal upheld the confiscation order, stating that Patel's claims of inflated asset values were unfounded. Officials noted that he has lived comfortably in Dubai for years without clear means of support, and efforts will now begin to liquidate his property assets to recover the stolen funds for public use.