A Devon taxi driver who fraudulently overstated his income by more than £350,000 to claim two Bounce Back Loans (BBLs) worth £100,000 has been jailed for two years and seven months.
Fraudulent Loan Applications
Murat Dogantekin, 50, of Mulligan Drive, Exeter, secured two £50,000 loans in May and June 2020, despite businesses being eligible for only one under the government’s Covid-19 financial support scheme.
In his loan applications, he falsely claimed:
- Annual turnover of £200,000 for his self-employed taxi business
- Annual turnover of £205,000 for a second business he falsely claimed to operate
- A total income of £405,000, despite tax records showing he earned just £16,500 for the tax year ending April 2020
Had he reported his actual income, he would have been eligible for just £4,125, meaning he fraudulently received an additional £95,875.
How He Spent the Money
Instead of using the loans to support his taxi business, Dogantekin:
Transferred £49,500 within four days of receiving the first loan
Sent £48,000 to an offshore bank account
Transferred the second loan to a family member and his own personal account within six days
Dogantekin never made any repayments before being declared bankrupt in November 2021.
Court Ruling & Sentencing
Dogantekin was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison at Exeter Crown Court on 27 February 2025.
Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, stated:
“Bounce Back Loans were created to support small businesses during the pandemic, not for fraudsters to exploit at the expense of taxpayers.”
“Dogantekin blatantly disregarded the rules, fraudulently obtained loans, and then attempted to conceal the transactions. His deliberate misuse of public funds will not be tolerated, and we will continue to take action against those who stole from the taxpayer during a national emergency.”
Investigation & Recovery of Funds
Dogantekin ignored 11 requests for financial records over six months
Failed to attend an interview under caution
The Insolvency Service is now seeking to recover the stolen money under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Authorities continue to investigate Covid-19 loan fraud cases, ensuring public funds are protected and fraudsters held accountable.
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