News Article
29 September 2009
For immediate release – Tuesday 29th September 2009
Northampton student jailed for NHS bursary fraud
A Northampton nursing student who had no right to remain in the UK has received 14 months’ imprisonment for defrauding nearly £20,000 from the NHS, after an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (sentenced at Northampton Crown Court, 28th September, 2009).
Viola Marume was sentenced to 6 months under the Identity Cards Act for having a false stamp in her passport, 6 months under the same act for having a false home office letter and 14 months for obtaining property by deception, an NHS bursary, to run concurrently.
Marume applied to remain in the UK as a student in August 2001, but was refused.
In September 2006 she enrolled on a three year Diploma in Adult Nursing at Northampton University. She provided a false copy of a Home Office letter stating she had indefinite leave to remain from June 2004, and a copy of her Zimbabwean passport containing a false Home Office stamp dated December 2003.
She successfully applied for an NHS student bursary on the basis of these false documents and seeming settled status, obtaining £19,783.58 before being exposed by an anonymous tipoff to the NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line.
Checks with the UK Border Agency confirmed her real status, and the bursary was stopped immediately. Marume was arrested by Northampton Immigration Crime Team on 6 May 2009 and her home was searched.
Marume pleaded guilty to three offences on 7th September 2009 at Northampton Crown Court: two under the Identity Cards Act in relation to the false documents, and one of obtaining a money transfer by deception.
Steve Guillon, Operational Fraud Manager East Midlands, NHS Counter Fraud Service, said:
“We take all allegations of fraud seriously and will thoroughly investigate to ensure those who deprive the NHS of valuable resources through their dishonesty are prosecuted. The NHS has invested in an individual who is not legally entitled to work here as a nurse. We hope others are deterred by seeing this outcome”.
Anyone who is concerned about a possible fraud against the NHS is encouraged to contact the confidential NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60.
-ENDS-
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 CF can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/CounterFraud.aspx
Notes to Editors
1. The 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.