News Article
24 July 2009
A mental health and learning disabilities worker who used false documents to get a job at Surrey & Borders Partnership Foundation Trust has been jailed for six months, after pleading guilty to all charges (Guildford Crown Court, 23rd July, 2009).
Manveer Nasapen, 30, of Nimbus Road, Epsom, Surrey, was convicted after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service. The total cost of the fraud to the Trust including his earnings is £93,086. Efforts will be made to recover the sum under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
He was charged with two counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage: one for gaining employment by using a falsely-stamped passport and the second for his later promotion using the same document along with falsely claiming to have a UK driving qualification. The third charge was an Identity Card Act offence. Nasapen was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment on each of the three counts, to run concurrently. He is currently in immigration detention.
On 4th November, 2002, Nasapen applied for a job as a bank care worker with Surrey & Borders Partnership Foundation Trust. At interview, he produced his Mauritian passport with a student visa due to expire on 31st October, 2003.
He began work on 1st July, 2003, and on 29th June, 2004 he successfully applied for another post.
On 24th September, 2004, after the Trust had queried the apparent expiry of his entitlement to work in the UK, Nasapen produced copies of a new passport, issued on 31st August 2004, and bearing a Home Office stamp showing no time limit on his stay.
He resumed employment on 9th January, 2005 but when his passport stamps were later checked with the Borders and Immigration Agency (BIA), it confirmed he had no leave to remain in the UK.
In March 2006 he applied for a promotion as Senior Support Worker, a position that required him to drive. He produced the same passport and falsely claimed to have a valid UK driving licence. The Trust would not have employed him in the post had it known he did not have one.
Nasapen was arrested on 28th April, 2009 by a Surrey Police/BIA joint unit, who searched his workplace locker and home, and he was interviewed at Reigate Police Station by NHS investigators.
Nicole McLaughlin, Operational Fraud Manager South East, NHS Counter Fraud Service, said: “Nasapen got both his jobs, working with vulnerable patients, through deception. The public rightly expects the NHS to employ people of total honesty and integrity. Those who commit fraud against the NHS can expect to be prosecuted.”
For more information contact James Robertson or Daryl Barrett at the NHS CFS press office on 020 7895 4524/ 4523. Out of hours mobile 07717 851 926
Further information on NHS CFS can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx
Notes to Editors
1. NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) - a service of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) - was established to tackle fraud and corruption throughout the NHS and Department of Health 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.
3.The NHS Counter Fraud Service has a network of teams who deal with complex, high value and cross boundary NHS frauds. In 2007-08 NHS CFS saved the NHS £7,565,014
4. In 2007-08 the NHS CFS successfully prosecuted 57 criminal cases with a 96% success rate.
5. To report any incident of suspected fraud in the NHS, please call the Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60.