The convicted £33m tax fraudster evading justice and living it up in Dubai

Image source, HMRC

Image caption, Arif Patel, who masterminded a massive VAT carousel fraud, remains on the run

By Ben Robinson and Alys Harte

File on 4 Investigates

One of the UK's most prolific fraudsters, described by a judge as a "breathtakingly arrogant" and "totally dishonest" man, remains on the run in Dubai after stealing more than £33m of public money.

Arif Patel, from Preston in Lancashire, was exposed following a complex investigation spanning years, led by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which established that he had tried to steal as much as £90m.

Patel, who skipped the UK in 2011 never to return, was eventually convicted in his absence and in 2023 was handed a 20-year prison sentence .

BBC File on 4 Investigates has been on the trail of the man who stole from all of us - and seemingly got away with it.

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