A UK businessman has been sentenced after unlawfully taking advantage of a Covid-19 support scheme designed to help struggling firms survive the pandemic, in a case that serves as a stark warning to business owners across Britain’s migrant and diaspora communities.
Prashant Jobanputra, 41, fraudulently secured two £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his printing company, Genesis Web Limited, despite clear rules stating that businesses were only entitled to one loan under the scheme. The applications were made within just five days of each other in the summer of 2020, at a time when government-backed loans were being fast-tracked to support companies hit by lockdowns.
On Tuesday 27 January, Jobanputra was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also banned from acting as a company director for three years and ordered to pay a £5,000 fine. While he repaid £15,371 of the money in late 2025, the remaining £35,000 has not been recovered and is now being pursued by authorities.
According to investigators, Jobanputra falsely declared in his second loan application that it was the only Bounce Back Loan he had applied for. The scheme was built on trust and speed, allowing businesses to self-certify eligibility, but that same system has since exposed widespread abuse that authorities are now working to undo.
Speaking after the sentencing, David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said the rules had been unambiguous and warned that enforcement efforts are far from over. He stressed that recovering stolen public funds remains a priority, especially as taxpayers continue to feel the long-term economic impact of the pandemic.
Genesis Web Limited, registered in 2004, specialised in printing photographs onto personalised items for both businesses and individuals. Jobanputra was the company’s sole director at the time of the loan applications and later told investigators that his business had been badly affected by Covid-19. He also claimed he did not read the loan agreement, which clearly stated that only one Bounce Back Loan was permitted per business.
The company entered liquidation in October 2021 and was dissolved in March 2024, but the case has not ended there. The Insolvency Service is now seeking to recover the remaining funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
For many migrants and diaspora entrepreneurs in the UK, the Bounce Back Loan scheme was a lifeline during an unprecedented crisis. However, this case highlights the serious consequences of failing to follow the rules, even years after the pandemic has passed. Authorities have made it clear that Covid-related fraud investigations will continue, and directors found to have abused support schemes will face prosecution, bans, and financial penalties.
As the UK government tightens oversight and recovers lost funds, business owners are being urged to understand their legal responsibilities fully and to seek proper advice when accessing public support. For the diaspora community, the message is clear: short-term gains through false declarations can lead to long-term damage to careers, finances, and reputations.