The ringleader of a gang of fraudsters found guilty of ripping off thousands of holidaymakers has been ordered to pay back £4.2 million or face a further seven years in prison.
Judge Andrew Goymer told Christakis Philippou, 62, he must pay back the full amount within 12 months or serve the extra sentence.
The fraudster’s assets include a £1.25 million home in Bark Place, Bayswater and thousands in Greek and Swiss bank accounts.
The judge said Philippou had damaged his case further by only admitting to having a Swiss bank account earlier this month. He said: “He was concealing information about the account so he would have access to the funds on his release. He would have used the money to finance his way of life.”
He added: “Having seen Philippou in the witness box, any court would have the greatest reservations about his credibility as a witness.”
The other members of the gang were ordered to pay back their assets last week.
Evangelia Liogka, who ran the groups’ call centres, must pay more than £2 million within ten months or face a six year prison sentence. Most of that sum will come from the sale of her £2.7 million home in Knightsbridge.
Meanwhile, Peter Kemp must pay back £213,228 within six months. Kemp was the only defendent to make a guilty plea.
Accountant Timothy Entwisle has been instructed to pay just £100 out of the £250,000 assets he accumulated fraudulently. He will face five days in prison if he fails to pay.
- More fraud coverage at travelweekly.co.uk/fraud