A developer who built a six-storey block of 34 flats without planning permission has been handed a record fine.
Yusuf Sarodia, director of Garland Development, was fined £710,000 and ordered to pay £25,000 costs.
He was first ordered to demolish the flats in Hoxton, London, in August 2011, and was finally taken to court under the Proceeds of Crime Act in August this year and fined £700,000 – equivalent to all the rent he had been paid.
However, with the flats still standing, he was again prosecuted and fined a further £10,000.
Hackney Council says it will pursue further legal action if necessary.
Sarodia said he had done nothing wrong.
The block of flats is still standing but is now empty.
34 FLATS! Amazing to think that he managed to get as far as completing them, let alone renting them. Hate to think what has slipped through the net.
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Demolish them? How wastefully stupid. Confiscate them into public ownership.
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Pretty ballsy decision to build a block of flats without planning!
Can only guess more than meets the eye on this one.
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I built stuff without permission and then has the cheek to say he’s done nothing wrong.
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