The Record has previously who made millions from crime but paid back only a fraction of their ill-gotten gains.
In 2016, we told how 261 criminals who pocketed £20million from their activities in Scotland were only made to stump up £4million under proceeds of crime powers, after being targeted during a 12-month period.
They included gang leader Muhammed Hameed, of Kirkcaldy, who amassed £1.5million through the country’s first case of a “cuckoo smurfing” scam, a form of money-laudering. Prosecutors forced him to give back just £75,000.
Also on the list was Susan McMahon, of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, who was jailed for embezzling £852,000 from trusts set up to help charities.
She exploited her position at accounting giants Grant Thornton UK by making fake documents so bosses would authorise payments.
McMahon was ordered to pay back under £14,000.
In 2015, we revealed how specialists at the Crown Office pursued 147 criminals over a year who raked in more than £37million.
Despite their hard work, the team only clawed back £4.3milion.
The criminals pursued included fraudster Michael Voudouri , who was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years over an £11.6million VAT fraud and breaching bail by going on the run.
Voudouri, who had a £900,000 home in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, paid back just £207,339.
In 2017, shamed boxing promoter and convicted fraudster Barry Hughes had a confiscation order granted against him.
Hughes, from Glasgow, was hit with the £53,000 order after admitting to a £1.3million mortgage scam in 2014. His “realisable assets” included a £5600 Vertu mobile phone and four watches worth a total of £18,000.
