As reported by the Daily Post, Caernarfon Crown Court heard that Gwynedd-based Express Motors’ owner and his three sons claimed thousands for fraudulent bus pass journeys.
Express Motors’ owner Eric Wyn Jones, 77 and his sons Ian Wyn Jones, 53, Keith Jones, 51, and Kevin Wyn Jones, 54, from Bontnewydd, were said to have claimed money back from Gwynedd Council for fraudulent journeys using concessionary bus passes.
The court heard that the four men have been accused of taking £500,000 for themselves claiming cash for 88,000 passenger journeys, with one card having been used 23,000 times.
Some passes were found to have been used up to 10 times a day, the jury heard. And prosecutors said investigators found that the owner Eric Wyn Jones’ own pass had been used on a bus he was driving at the time.
Matthew Dunford, prosecuting, said claims were made for these journeys to the council which paid Express Motors and then claimed the money back from the Welsh Government under the all-Wales concessionary travel scheme.
The court heard that in a 15-month period, more than £1.2m was taken in cash by the company but only £690,000 was paid into the bank.
Outlining the prosecution case, Matthew Dunford said Express Motors was a significant business in the Gwynedd area, operating 60 buses and employing more than 80 people.
He said Eric Wyn Jones owned the company with his wife, but added she played no role in the business.
Kevin Wyn Jones was the Transport Manager and his brother Ian ran the garage. Keith ran the coach hire business.
Mr Dunford said investigators found regular cash payments had been made by the four men into their bank accounts.
The four deny conspiring to commit fraud by false representation.
They also deny conspiring to conceal money by failing to pay cash into the company bank account and failing to declare the money as income. The trial continues.
