A SHOP owner has appeared in court charged with evading more than £1 million in tax.

Mohammed Mirza, also known as Ameen Mirza, allegedly committed the crime between June 2009 and April 2014.

Prosecutors state the 56-year-old was knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of value added tax to the figure of £1,086,434.56.

It is claimed that Ameen Mirza knowingly surpressed the total value of sales which he submitted to HMRC on his quarterly VAT returns.

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The charge states these returns were in relation to shops operated by Ameen Mirza in Glasgow’s Western Road and Ballater Street.

It is alleged Ameen Mirza falsely submitted the VAT owed by him was less than the true value and did evade the payment to HMRC.

Ameen Mirza faces a separate charge of producing, furnishing, sending and otherwise make use of VAT tax returns submitted to HMRC that were false.

It is claimed by prosecutors that Ameen Mirza, of the city’s Pollokshields, did this with “intent to deceive.”

Co-accused Muhammad Mirza, also known as Hanif Mirza, 48, is also charged with being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT.

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Hanif Mirza, of the city’s Thornliebank, is claimed to have surpressed £91,408.38.

Hanif Mirza’s crimes are said to have spanned from December 2010 until March 2014 in respect of a shop in the city’s Cumbernauld Road.

The pair pleaded not guilty at a hearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court.

A further hearing was fixed for next month.