Mastermind behind million-krone fraud sentenced to more than three years in prison
The man who led an extensive fraud scheme targeting economically struggling Danes has been sent to prison for gross fraud.
Mastermind behind million-krone fraud sentenced to more than three years in prison
A man who exploited Danes in economic difficulty for years must now serve a sentence of three years and three months. The court in the capital passed judgment in the spring against Poul Sørensen for gross fraud and tax evasion. This is reported by TV 2.
The case first came to light when journalist Morten Spiegelhauer sought out the now-convicted man in a Copenhagen business in 2019. At that time, Sørensen was attempting to get one of the victims to assume the director position in the company behind the fraud.
From 2014, Sørensen operated through the company P Finans. He approached people with substantial debt burdens and offered them help consolidating their payments. On the internet, the company presented itself as a partner of major international financial institutions.
Customers were provided with loans, which they were immediately required to place in an affiliated company. They were led to believe their money would yield an annual return of approximately 14 per cent. At the same time, they were told they could deduct loan interest in their tax returns. However, the placements did not exist, and the tax deduction was invalid.
The tax authorities first discovered the irregularities in 2018 – four years after the first transactions through P Finans. The prosecutor estimates that the state lost 2.5 million kroner due to the unjustified deductions.
In total, 99 people were deceived. The court noted that all belonged to a vulnerable group: some were ill, others had experienced marital breakdown or suffered from unemployment. Collectively, they lost nearly ten million kroner.
Four other people were likewise found guilty. Among them was Sten Sørensen, who at the time was an appointed defence counsel and simultaneously held the director's position in several of the companies involved. He received a sentence of two years and three months, the majority of which is suspended. The Bar Council stripped him of the right to practise his profession in 2021. Morten Brask Hansen, who according to the court panel personally withdrew 1.9 million kroner, must serve two years and six months.
All five convicted individuals have chosen to appeal the decision to the higher court of appeal.
Source: TV 2
Source: TV 2 Nyheder