A sole-trader building contractor has received a suspended prison sentence for falsely claiming the maximum amount available under the Covid loan system.<\/p>\n
Florin-Petrica Bodale, who offered plumbing, heating and air-conditioning installation, successfully applied for a Covid Bounce Back Loan of \u00a350,000 in November 2020.<\/p>\n
However, the Insolvency Service said yesterday (15 April) that an investigation found the Harrow-based contractor had falsely claimed the company\u2019s turnover was \u00a3240,000.<\/p>\n
His turnover was instead \u00a322,000, meaning Bodale was only entitled to \u00a35,500, the Insolvency Service added.<\/p>\n
At Snaresbrook Crown Court last week, Bodale was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment \u2013 suspended for 18 months \u2013 on one count of fraud by false representation, according to the Insolvency Service.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old, of Elmsleigh Avenue, Harrow, was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.<\/p>\n
Before the criminal investigation, Bodale had signed a 10-year bankruptcy restriction undertaking that included a 10-year director disqualification, the Insolvency Service said.<\/p>\n
This was agreed in 2022, following a civil investigation by the agency.<\/p>\n
The court noted that he had repaid some money as part of the bankruptcy process, according to the Insolvency Service.<\/p>\n
Insolvency Service chief investigator David Snasdell said: \u201cFlorin-Petrica Bodale falsely claimed a much higher turnover for his business and the reality of this is a notable sentence on top of his earlier disqualification as a director.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese loans were intended to help keep small businesses afloat, not to take money from the public purse that businesses were not entitled to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue in our efforts to bring those who abuse this scheme to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bodale is the latest contractor to face action over Covid loan fraud. Earlier this month, a joinery boss who falsely claimed a \u00a330,000 Covid loan<\/a> was given a suspended prison sentence.<\/p>\n