Boss back in court

Silicon Technologies VAT fraud courtroom drama continues

The courtroom saga involving the director of Eire-based components distributor Silicon Technologies Europe continued last week with another court appearance.

At the time of going to press, the prosecution in the case of Dylan Creaven was applying to keep the 29-year-old in custody until a trial date could be fixed.

Creaven was arrested in November and remanded in custody after appearing at the Old Bailey in connection with an alleged VAT fraud, estimated at more than £162m.

His arrest followed an operation, code-named Operation Chipstick, run by HM Customs and Excise, the Criminal Assets Bureau, Irish police and Irish Revenue Officers of Customs Enforcement.

Creaven was charged with conspiracy to cheat the revenue under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and money laundering offences under Section 93 C (1) (B) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. His defence counsel is believed to be applying for bail.