Man jailed over €1.1m highways fraud

A former council worker has been jailed in the UK, after being found guilty of stealing around €1.1 million that was intended for companies working on the country’s roads.

Highways contractors paid bonds to Birmingham City Council, as security against accidental damage caused during projects. Photo: Adobe Stock

Tyler Evans was responsible for the repayment of bonds paid to the council by contractors, as security against damage they might cause while undertaking projects in the Birmingham city area.

An investigation found that, rather than pay the bonds back to construction companies, Evans had been siphoning it into his own bank accounts.

Evans was dismissed from the council in 2014, for reasons unconnected to the fraud, and subsequently moved to the US.

When the theft was uncovered, Evans was extradited back to the UK, where he pleaded guilty to a count of fraud by abuse of position and another for money laundering.

He was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment.

New security measures

Kevin Hicks, assistant director, highways and infrastructure at Birmingham City Council, said, “Once the fraud was uncovered steps were immediately taken to change the council’s internal payment process to strengthen controls and mitigate the risk of this happening again.

“The council’s insurers covered the financial loss apart from an excess of £100,000 [c€110,000]. None of our contractors were affected during this process.

“It is appalling that someone could steal money that should have been spent on public services, and we understand that confiscation proceedings will be pursued.”