Sheffield Mental Health Nurse Jailed 21 Months For Fraud

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 22 May 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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A man who used a forged document to obtain an NHS bursary and train as a mental health nurse has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraud at Sheffield Crown Court (18 May 2009) after a joint investigation by NHS Counter Fraud and the UK Border Agency.

Ignatius Dube pleaded guilty to seven charges, receiving 21 months imprisonment for each, to run concurrently. The total value of the fraud was £70,683.60 of which £56,296.52 was defrauded from the state: the bursary of £18,980.76 and £37,315.76 in asylum benefits. The remaining amount of £14,387.50 was in earnings whilst he was employed with recruitment agencies.

In September 2006, Dube provided a forged Home Office letter to Sheffield Hallam University, which falsely stated he had been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK from June 2004. In fact he had been refused asylum, and his appeal against the decision was dismissed in April 2005*. He enrolled on a 3-year degree course in Mental Health Nursing and applied for an NHS Bursary, which was awarded on the basis of the letter and his apparent settled status. His deception also led him to work for recruitment agencies based in Birmingham, Walsall, Sheffield and Rotherham.

In September 2008 NHS Student Bursaries was told of his real status, which was confirmed by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA). NHS Counter Fraud investigators obtained witness statements and other evidence of fraud against the NHS. Dube was arrested and interviewed by North East Yorkshire and Humber Immigration Crime Team on 17 March 2009.

At Sheffield Crown Court on May 1st, he pleaded guilty to seven charges:

1. Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception by earning remuneration whilst working for a recruitment agency in Birmingham

2. Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception by earning remuneration whilst working for a recruitment agency in Walsall

3. Obtaining £37,315.76 by deception from the Home Office by claiming he was destitute 4. Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception by earning remuneration whilst working for a recruitment agency in Sheffield

5. Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception by earning remuneration whilst working for a recruitment agency in Rotherham

6. Obtaining £18,980.76 by deception from the NHS in respect of a bursary

7. Possession of a false identity document with intent, namely a false French passport

Steve Guillon, Operational Fraud Manager, East Midlands, NHS Counter Fraud, said: "We take this sort of fraud against the NHS very seriously and this outcome should act as a warning to others not to abuse the bursary system."

*Ignatius Dube still has representations under the Human Rights Act which await judgment.

For more information contact James Robertson at the NHS CF press office on 020 7895 4524/ 4523. Out of hours mobile 07717 851 926 Further information on NHS CF can be found at http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx.

Notes

1. NHS Counter Fraud (NHS CF) - a service of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS and DH whether it involves professionals, staff, patients or contractors. It aims to create a lasting anti-fraud culture.

2. Around 319 professionally-trained and accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists are in place covering every health body in England and Wales. They are supported nationally and regionally by NHS CF. NHS CF investigations produced potential savings to the NHS of £7,565,014 during 2007-08.

3. In 2007-08 the NHS CF successfully prosecuted 57 criminal cases with a 96% success rate.

4. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60.

Source
 NHS Counter Fraud Service

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