News Article
03 April 2009
A Zimbabwean man living illegally in the UK for the past five years was today sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for each of eight offences, to run concurrently, following an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (Guildford Crown Court).
Surrey-based NHS healthcare assistant Moses Garaba, 52, had no legal right to remain or work in the UK but used false Home Office documents and a false National Insurance number card to obtain employment and a Key Worker Home Loan.
Garaba used these documents to work for the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust and to apply as a bank worker with NHS Professionals. In November 2005 he obtained a Key Worker Home Loan to purchase a 1-bedroom flat from Sentinel Housing using the same papers and his NHS job status.
The Judge said: “In my opinion, Mr Garaba is fully aware of the origins of the passport and national insurance cards and chose to act illegally in order to secure his indefinite leave to remain in the UK, despite previously being declined, and regardless of the consequences.”
He acknowledged that Garaba was a “good worker”, but “that does not mitigate against the circumstances of the offences” and told him: “You showed no remorse…you knew what you were doing.”
Managing Director of the NHS Counter Fraud Service, Dermid McCausland said: “A custodial sentence reflects the gravity of Garaba’s offences. The public has a right to expect that those who work in the NHS are honest. This sends out a clear message to others applying for NHS training and jobs that using falsified documents is not acceptable and can result in a jail sentence.”
Garaba was earlier found guilty of 4 counts for using a copy of a false instrument (contrary to section 4 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981), one count of fraud (contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006) and 3 counts of possessing an article for use in a fraud contrary to section 6(1) of the Fraud Act 2006.
On behalf of the NHS Counter Fraud Service, Garaba was arrested by officers from Guildford CID on 07 July 2007 and his passport was found to contain a false Home Office stamp. A false Home Office letter and National Insurance (NI) number card were also seized.
When interviewed under caution he denied knowledge that they were false. He claimed he obtained the Home Office documents by post through a solicitor in London, but could not recall the solicitors’ name or address. He also claimed he applied for the NI card at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offices in Woking and subsequently received the card in the post.
To mount the successful challenge to his version of events, witness statements were collected from the Home Office, DWP, Sentinel Housing, NHS Professionals and the Trust.
After his arrest the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust terminated his employment, and he was rearrested for immigration offences.
For more information contact James Robertson at the NHS CFS press office on 020 7895 4524. Further information on the NHS CFSMS can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/fraud
Notes to Editors
1. The NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) - a division of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS, 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 the NHS Counter Fraud Service. The Service investigations produced potential savings to the NHS of £7,565,014 during 2007-08.
3. In 2007-08 the NHS CFS 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.