Covid PPE fraudsters spent money on cars and watches

Fraudsters committing personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud during the Covid-19 outbreak spent hundreds of thousands of lira on luxury cars, watches and home renovations.

Jogesh Bhandari, 59, and Craig Morris, 43, were found guilty at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday following two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conceal and transfer criminal property.

Meenakashi Bhandari, 48, was found guilty of concealing and transferring criminal property. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the group claimed they could supply millions of boxes of nitrile gloves.

They will be sentenced on August 21.

The NCA said bank records showed Jogesh Bhandari and his wife Meenakashi Bhandari, both of Mitchell Drive in Loughborough, Leicestershire, used the money to buy Rolexes, jewellery, holiday packages and cars.

The NCA said Jogesh spent £126,000 on a new Porsche, while the other money was used to renovate the kitchen.

According to the NCA, Jogesh was the owner and director of a company established in 2020 to buy and sell nitrile gloves; Morris, meanwhile, facilitated a series of fraudulent deals in 2020 and 2021.

The agency said Jogesh provided potential suppliers with a series of false documents, including bank statements and attestation letters for up to $125 million, in an attempt to persuade businesses to trade with him.