UK Chasing Scammers Who Took COVID-19 Relief Money

Archives of British sculptor Charles Elliott at work in his studio "In Safe Hands" on display outside the studio as it is being auctioned to raise funds for the NHS as the spread of COVID-19 continues. REUTERS/Paul Childs/foc/cfo (REUTERS/PAUL CHILDS)

JAKARTA - Britain's head of public spending on Monday, January 31 urged fraudsters who embezzled billions of dollars in COVID support money from the country to return them.

UK Chief Financial Secretary, Simon Clarke, said the UK tax service known as HM Revenue & Customs would pursue anyone who had fraudulently taken the money.

"We are currently going after whoever took this money fraudulently", Clarke told LBC radio.

"And I would urge anyone who took the money and didn't really need it to contact HMRC", he added.

"Anyone who thinks that they are going to run away from the power of HMRC, they are making a big mistake", he said.

The exact amount of COVID money that was diverted is unclear but many estimates put it at around £5 billion.