A MAN accused of involvement in a massive bootlegging fraud has been remanded in custody to face a retrial after a jury in Kent failed to reach a verdict on one of the charges he was facing.
Abraham Smith, 52, of Hay Lane, Wroughton, was unanimously convicted of one charge of evading duty on almost 750,000 cigarettes into the country, but there was stalemate on a second charge involving 3.2 million cigarettes.
He had denied both charges.
Judge Michael Neligan discharged the jury at Maidstone Crown Court from reaching a verdict on the outstanding charge and ordered a fresh trial.
During the trial the court was told that the 750,000 cigarettes, involving duty evasion of £100,000, were delivered to an address at West Kingsdown, Kent, in October 2002.
The 3.2 million cigarettes were seized at services in Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Wolverhampton businessman Jazsef Gulyas, 70, was convicted of evading duty on 750,000 cigarettes and 3.2 million cigarettes. Sentence on him was adjourned until March 4. He was also remanded in custody.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article