Firms admit £70m postal fraud

It involved an alleged fraud carried out over more than a decade by connected mailing and logistics businesses, with the perpetrators accused of manipulating docket spreadsheets on the Royal Mail self-declaration system used by large mailing firms at the time.

On Tuesday (22 August), Judge Philip Bartle KC informed the jury at Southwark Crown Court in London that the companies involved had changed their pleas.

One representative from Tiger International Logistics Ltd, Worldwide Transport Express Ltd and Global Express Worldwide Ltd – all based in Slough – each pleaded guilty on behalf of the companies to the conspiracy.

Parmjeet Sandhu, 56, of Slough, the director and owner of Tiger International Logistics Ltd and Worldwide Transport Express Ltd, pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining services dishonestly.

His brother Narinder Sandhu had previously been described as the “architect” of the scheme as the owner of the company that was at the centre of the fraud, Packpost International Ltd based in Aylesbury.

Narinder Sandhu and Packpost International Ltd had already pleaded guilty prior to the trial.

The court heard that Narinder Sandhu had declared income of around £1m per annum towards the end of the fraud and enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle. He lived in a mansion near Beaconsfield and had Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars.

The charges related to the period from 2008-2017 although the court heard the fraud had begun in 2005.

The jury found Balginder Sandhu, 46, and Lakhwinder Sekhon, 42, not guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, following direction from the judge. 

Balginder Sandhu is from Slough. He is Parmjeet Sandhu’s nephew and is the owner of Global Express Worldwide Ltd.

Sekhon is from Isleworth and is not a family relation.

The trial was originally scheduled to take two months, but the change of pleas meant it only lasted a week.

Sentencing is set to take place at the same court in October.