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PPE fraud sentencing

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-19 11:58 UTC → 2026-10-21 07:05 UTC · added removed

A multi-million-pound personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud scheme involving the sale of non-existent nitrile gloves to companies in the United States and Germany has resulted in prison sentences for several individuals. Craig Morris, Following a former school governor, five-week trial at Leicester Crown Court, Jogesh Bhandari, 59, was sentenced to three eight years and nine months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. He worked alongside Jogesh Bhandari, who prosecutors prison. Prosecutors identified him as the “driving force and the instigator” of the scheme. The conspirators used funds diverted from the fraudulent contracts to finance luxury lifestyles, including high-end vehicles, jewelry, and property renovations. Following his initial failure to appear at a hearing, Jogesh Bhandari was sentenced to eight years in prison. He was found to have retained approximately £1.75 million from the fraud. Additionally, His wife, Meenakashi Bhandari Bhandari, 58, received a two-year suspended sentence and 250 hours of unpaid work for her involvement in concealing and transferring criminal property. Craig Morris, 43, a former school governor who acted on behalf of the couple’s business to make fraudulent representations, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. A National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation revealed that the group exploited the high demand for medical supplies during the pandemic to finance luxury lifestyles, including high-end vehicles, jewelry, and property renovations. In one specific transaction, Bhandari received more than $3.18 million for nitrile gloves intended for hospitals in the United States that were never delivered. The NCA noted that the defendants targeted legitimate businesses during a period of global uncertainty, causing significant financial losses while healthcare facilities lacked vital equipment.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-21 07:05 UTC PPE fraud sentencing
  2. 2026-10-19 11:58 UTC PPE fraud sentencing

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