Two guilty of helping launder £1.8m for fraudster

A LAWYER and bookkeeper linked to one of Scotland’s most notorious fraudsters have been convicted of money laundering.

Richard Housley, 57, and Caroline Laing, 55, helped Michael Voudouri and his associates hide £1.8 million of dirty cash.

Housley and Laing were found guilty following a three-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Housley wa s also convicted of income tax fraud and a charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

They were bailed pending sentencing, but face jail terms when they appear at the High Court in Edinburgh on March 4.

The case involved fortunes made by Glasgowbased Q-Tech Distribution.

The firm claimed back VAT on bogus Europe-wide business transactions in a “carousel fraud”.

Voudouri had originally been due to stand trial with Housley and Laing, but he pled guilty last year to laundering more than £10m brought in by Q-Tech.

The 45-year-old – who had a previous conviction for VAT fraud – is currently on the run after he failed to turn up to be sentenced.

The court heard Housley first got to know Voudouri in 2002, when Housley worked for Gebals Solicitors based in Bathgate, West Lothian.

Housley was later invited to become involved in a business used as a front by Voudouri and others to hide cash from the authorities.

Housley told a jury how he was “excited” to be part of Stirling-based clothing firm Labarito Limited as it was “different from the legal profession”. The solicitor – whose law firm had posted £2m profits – was to earn £25,000 a year as a director.

Laing was also involved as Labarito’s secretary.

Housley, of Edinburgh, and Laing, of Denny, Stirlingshire, were arrested after a probe by HMRC.