Berkshire, UK. 14 August 2009

An Asian businessman who ran a recruitment company into the ground, racked up over £750,000 in debt and kept incomplete financial records was sentenced to nine months in prison at Reading Crown Court. He was also banned from running a company for five years. Mr Amir Hussain, 39, of Northern Road, Slough, was the sole Director of Crownwell Limited until 1 September 2004 when the company was voluntarily wound up. However, despite repeated requests from the liquidator, Hussain failed to hand over accounting records.

Business Minister Pat McFadden said:“We are determined to crack down on rogue traders who flout the law and cheat honest businesses and the taxpayer.Keeping comprehensive accounting records is crucial to ensuring transparency and fairness so that both honest creditors and the taxpayer do not lose out when a company fails.This prosecution sends a clear warning to would-be fraudsters that they won’t be allowed to get away with their crimes.” On sentencing, His Honour Judge John said Hussain “showed no regret” for what he had done and that he “cannot be trusted”.

Hussain was convicted for misconduct in the course of winding up contrary to section 208(1)(c) of the Insolvency Act 1986 and failing to cause a company to keep accounting records contrary to section 221(5) of the Companies Act 1985. At Reading Crown Court on 24 July 2009 HH Judge John sentenced him to, respectively, nine months and six months immediate custody to run concurrently and a disqualification order of five years. Mr Hussain was found guilty after trial on 17 July 2009.

Cromwell Limited was wound up on 1 st September 2004 with a deficiency owed, mainly to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, of £771, 317.29. Mr. Hussain was the sole Company Director on 18 th July 2001, soon after the company was incorporated (or came into existence) on 21 st June 2001 and continued as such until he voluntarily sought the winding up (or liquidation) of the company in 2004.