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Toronto man gets 5 years in prison for claiming nearly $1M in tax refunds

Nov 17, 2017 | 11:45 AM

TORONTO — A Toronto man has been sentenced to five years in prison for claiming nearly $1 million in Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized Sales Tax refunds to which he wasn’t entitled.

The Canada Revenue Agency says Alexander Wiafe — who was convicted of fraud over $5,000 — also was fined $96,000 and faces an additional 18 months in custody if the fine isn’t paid within five years of his release.

The CRA says Wiafe — the director and sole shareholder of Wiafco Industries Ltd. — filed eight quarterly GST/HST returns between March 13, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2014, claiming refunds for purchases that were either fictitious or not incurred by the company.

It says Wiafe claimed a total of $997,842 in refunds and received two refund payments totalling $106,057, which he used both for personal expenditures and also to further the fraud.