- The company claimed to have recycled 10,600 tonnes of electrical scrap
- Environment Agency investigation reveals forged paperwork
The Environment Agency successfully obtained a proceeds-of-crime confiscation order for two brothers from Solihull, who had previously been sentenced to custodial time following fraud investigations into Electronic Waste Specialists Ltd (EWS).
Hearings at Birmingham Crown Court, 31 January and 2 Feb 2022, ordered Jamil Rhman, 56, of Appleby Grove to pay 295 965.97 and Saleem REHMAN, 57, from Buckbury Croft, 100,000.
Following an investigation, Jamil, who was the sole Director at Electronic Waste Specialists Ltd, (EWS), submitted fictitious claims to recycle approximately 10,600 tonnes worth of electronic waste. His company received payment of 1.48 million from Weelight Ltd.’s producer compliance scheme.
Jamil Rehman pleaded guilty to one count of trading fraud between October 2011-January 2012. Saleem Rehman, Jamil’s brother, admitted to one count of trading fraudulently between October 2011 and January 2012.
Jamil Rehman was sentenced to a 5 year 4 month custodial term, while Saleem was sentenced to a 16 month sentence in prison, with a suspended 2 year term.
Following these sentences, Environment Agency conducted a confiscation inquiry under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Jamil Rehman received a 3 month sentence of 4 years imprisonment and 295,965.97 for default. The court found that Jamil Rehman had received 1,481,908.85 in benefits. His available amount was 295,965.97.
Saleem Rehman was sentenced to 100,000 in three months at a hearing held on 31 January. He was also given a default sentence of 2 year imprisonment for failing to pay within the time limit. The court found that Saleem had received 100,000 in benefits and that this was his maximum amount.
Neil Campbell, from Environment Agency’s national enforcement unit, said:
This case shows that the Environment Agency does not just want to prosecute illegal waste operations. They will also pursue those who profit from illegal waste operations to recover taxpayers’ money spent on them.
Waste crime can have a serious impact on the environment and pose a risk to communities. It can damage legitimate businesses and the investment and economic growth that goes with them.
We support legitimate businesses, and we are proactive supporting them by disrupting the criminal element backed by the threat of harsh enforcement like in this case.
If anyone suspects a company of doing something illegal, please contact the Environment Agency at 08008070 60 or anonymously report it to Crimestoppers @ 0800555111.
Additional Information
For background information, see: Brothers sentenced to 1.48 million for electronic waste fraud – Government of United Kingdom (www.gov.uk).
Weelight Ltd contracted EWSs services as an approved authorised facility for treatment.
The company created fake paperwork that detailed fictitious recycling.
The Environment Agencys National Investigations Team was suspicious of the paperwork EWS had submitted.
EWS Ltd went into voluntary administration in 2014, with over 116,000 outstanding debts.
Organised waste crime is serious and can cost the UK economy 600 million pounds a year. This is harmful to the environment, local communities, and deprives governments of tax income.
