HMRC officers executed a search warrant yesterday [8 July 2020] in the Solihull area and arrested the man in what they said was the first arrest in connection with alleged Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fraud.

Computers and other digital devices were seized, and funds held in a bank account relating to his business have been frozen, HMRC said.

The man arrested was also held in relation to a suspected multi-million pound tax fraud and alleged money laundering offences. 

A further eight men have been arrested as part of this linked investigation, which involved the deployment of more than 100 HMRC officers to 11 locations. Business and personal records along with other computers and digital devices were seized. 

More than £27bn has been claimed through the CJRS, supporting 1.1m employers and 9.4m furloughed jobs.

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