Surrey-based electrician claimed £45,000 from the covid business support scheme although he had stopped being self-employed four years earlier
Andrei Adrian Moise claimed a Bounce Back Loan despite no longer being self-employed
He breached the rules of the scheme to claim £45,000 to which he was not entitled
Moise is now subject to 11 years of bankruptcy restrictions which mean he cannot act as a director of a limited company without the court’s permission or borrow more than £500 without disclosing his restrictions
A former electrician has had his bankruptcy restrictions extended for 11 years after claiming a £45,000 Bounce Back Loan to support his business during the pandemic, despite not being self-employed at the time.
Andrei Adrian Moise, 35, from Mitcham in Surrey, received a £45,000 Bounce Back Loan in July 2020 to support his role as a self-employed electrician.
Under the rules of the scheme, self-employed people had to have been working as a sole trader on 1 March 2020 to be eligible for a loan.
However, when Moise became bankrupt in May 2023, the Official Receiver discovered that he had ceased being self-employed in 2016.
Bounce Back Loans were supposed to be used for the economic benefit of the business, but Moise used the money for other purposes including some which was paid to third parties.
Mitzi Mace, Official Receiver at the Insolvency Service, said:
Andrei Moise abused a government scheme which was designed to help businesses survive one of the toughest times for traders. The Insolvency Service will always act to protect the public from those who take advantage of taxpayers’ money. Mr Moise will be subject to tough restrictions for 11 years which will protect the public from further abuse.
Bankruptcy restrictions include being prevented from acting as a company director without permission from the court, being unable to borrow more than £500 without declaring you are subject to restrictions and being barred from holding some roles of responsibilities, such as a charity trustee, school governor or certain posts in public sector organisations.
The restrictions usually last for 12 months – the duration of a standard bankruptcy – but if the Official Receiver thinks a bankrupt has been dishonest, they can apply to the court to extend the restrictions through a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (BRO) for between two and 15 years.
The bankrupt may instead agree to sign a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU), which has the same effect as an Order, but means the matter will not go to court.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted an 11-year Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking from Andrei Moise on 21 May 2024.
Further Information
Andrei Adrian Moise is of Firs Close, Mitcham, Surrey
His date of birth is 21 July 1989
For more information on Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders (BROs) and Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertakings (BRUs) see: Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders and Undertakings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)