With the cleaning of sewer pits, they earned hundreds of thousands of euros, until how: companies convicted for money laundering (Ghent)
The two men knew their punishment in the Ghent court this week. – © Archive and SD
The manager of a company that supplied workers to clean sewer wells has been convicted of social fraud and money laundering. He paid his employees in black through false invoices and for that he received the help of a friend. Together they have to repay 120,000 euros in profits.
The first manager had a company specialized in cleaning sewer wells. He had several major customers and things went very well. A friend who worked for him also informed the win. According to the labor auditor, they would have achieved more than 221,000 euros in profit together.
Bulgarian companies
But after a while how. The man paid his workers in black. And for that he received help from that friend and his company. He himself employed dozens of employees. He always paid it in black: through cash money.
But that system had one problem: officially his company had no activities. That’s why he called in a friend. According to the construction, it worked in subcontracting. He paid him 30 euros per hour and invoiced 31.50 euros. Each time three fourth of these were channeled through Bulgarian companies. He gave that cash to the first manager to pay the employees. (Read more under the photo)
The two men knew their punishment in the Ghent court this week. – © SD
Business went well for a long time, but the scam came out after a complaint from one of the employees. This after one manager had placed a camera because he did not trust that person.
Confiscation
« He participated in this and has to be punished, » said lawyer Ali Acer for the first defendant. « But we don’t agree with one thing: why is the company that gave the assignments to his company here? That is particularly unjust. »
Lawyer Jesse van den Broeck intervened for the second defendant, who allegedly worked in subcontracting. He also violated an earlier professional ban and therefore risks having to go to prison effectively. « He is left with it and does not dispute the facts. »
This week, the manager was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 16,000 euros, half with a delay. His friend was also recently convicted of the Court of Appeal for similar facts. The court decided to give him another six months in prison. They also have to repay 60,000 euros in profits.
