The Unveiling of Christopher Chipperton: The Man Behind Denmark’s Largest Tax Scandal
Skattestyrelsen has chosen not to participate in an interview to shed light on the matter but has stated in a follow-up response that the case against Chipperton “concerns the dissemination of the former SKAT’s payments of presumed unjustified refunds.”
In other words, the Briton is being sued for aiding in concealing a substantial sum of money, as per the Danish tax authorities, indicating that he personally did not withdraw dividend millions from Denmark.
This marks the first time that Danish authorities have directly named a person who played a role in the dividend case.
In an email, Chipperton’s British lawyer stated that his client “denies all claims raised against him.”
Project Artemis: The Intriguing Journey of Christopher Chipperton
But how did Christopher Chipperton transition from being a seasoned investigator at the British tax authority to advising the central figure in Denmark’s largest fraud case?
His Dubai-based company, Arig Risk Management, of which he was both director and owner until its dissolution in 2018, plays a pivotal role in this narrative.
Christopher Chipperton had extensive experience working in the Middle East and had served as a liaison officer for the British tax authority in the region for five years during the 90s.
Before transitioning to the private sector, he had secured ‘many valuable contacts in the business world and at government level,’ as stated on Arig’s website before it was shut down.
Sanjay Shah’s PR advisor, Jack Irvine, was acquainted with Chipperton because they had both represented businessman Stewart Owen Ford in a protracted dispute with British authorities.
It was, therefore, a natural choice for Irvine to suggest that Chipperton assist Sanjay Shah.
– Chris Chipperton is a recognized expert in regulatory investigations and tax disputes, Irvine wrote in a text message to TV2.
The collaboration between Sanjay Shah and Chipperton’s company, Arig, was solidified approximately a year earlier.
DR News is privy to a letter of agreement from November 2015, indicating that Chipperton’s company, Arig, would receive a monthly fee of 250,000 pounds (approximately 2.65 million kroner at the time) to assist Sanjay Shah and his Dubai-based company, Elysium.
The agreement was named ‘Project Artemis’ and spanned two years, signed by both Chipperton and Shah, detailing the former tax investigator’s tasks, including locating witnesses and gathering testimonies for use in Sanjay Shah’s defense.
Furthermore, he was tasked with steering the investigation away from criminal prosecution and towards a civil settlement, as outlined in the agreement.
Fast forward almost nine years later, Sanjay Shah is currently in pre-trial detention in Denmark for fraudulent activity involving dividend tax exceeding nine billion kroner. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the case, he faces a potential 12-year prison sentence if the court does not accept his explanation.
Additionally, Danish tax authorities have sued him for a billion-dollar sum in London, and last year, he was ordered by Dubai’s highest court to repay over 8.5 billion kroner.