Tough one ...
Ten years in prison or cough up £46 million.
I think a quick survey would show most people willing to give up ten years of liberty for £46 million.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is demanding two convicted carousel fraudsters pay back £92m in cash, cars and properties or face an extra ten years in prison. The gang of 21 were sentenced to a total of 74 years in May. They ran a massive missing trader or carousel fraud importing computer chips from Ireland VAT-free and …
So, they stole £37.2m
The police have already seized assets worth > £88.5m
The two main criminals have to "re-pay" £92.3m
So, its not very clear, does the £88.5m already seized count towards that ?
How did £37.2m turn into > £88.5m from the criminals end? Really good investment strategy? Can we put them in charge of HSBC?
How did £37.2m turn into £92.3m from the police end? Proceeds of crime including interest etc? Legal/investigation costs?
The seven year sentence pays £6.5M/year. Increasing it to 17 years is still £2.7/year. With no expenses and a decent rate of interest, they should be able to double their money by the time their new sentences finish. The only deal that will really work to tell the they stay in prison until they pay up.