Tobago Businessmen on Bail for Tax Fraud

The Criminal Tax Investigation Unit (C.T.I.U.) of the Board of Inland Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, conducted an investigation into allegations against Habib International Ltd, Richie Habib, and Yolande Clarke for tax fraud. The offenses included recovering Value Added Tax (VAT) while not registered, contrary to sec. 23 (2) of the VAT Act, Chap. 75:06 , and cheating the Public Revenue .

The investigation revealed that Habib International Ltd, which is not registered for VAT, invoiced the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for rent using Springs Property Development Ltd’s VAT registration number, resulting in the recovery of over $2.3 million in VAT from September 2016 to December 2021.

The defendants, including Richie Habib and Yolande Clarke, were accused of dishonestly representing VAT registration to the THA, leading to charges. The case involves false invoicing, misuse of VAT registration, and failure to register and pay VAT, implicating both the company and its officers. The investigation, conducted by Mr. Rawle Sookhoo, a Criminal Tax Investigator, culminated in warrants executed on December 12th, 2023.

Both accused appeared before the High Court in Tobago and placed on $800,000 bail each. They are expected to reappear in court in May, 2024. 

The building in question formerly housed the Division of Health, Wellness, and Social Protection. Habib is a well-known businessman in Tobago, and Clarke recently held the position of Sales and Marketing Manager at Tobago Channel 5.

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