Gang jailed over uni scam (From The Argus)
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Gang jailed over uni scam
12:00pm Sunday 17th February 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
Andrew Wormstone
Five men who attempted to steal more than £2million from the University of Sussex have been jailed.
The conmen – including a solicitor – contacted the university and posed as employees of a legitimate Manchester construction firm which had been chosen to carry out work on new student accommodation.
They falsely told bosses at the university they were owed the £2m-plus for work on new student accommodation.
In October 2010 the university fell for the gang’s claims and paid their false invoice which was created electronically using letterheads.
They put money into a bank account called Balecourt Ltd controlled by the gang’s ringleader, Gurdip Singh, 37, of Leicester.
East Midlands Special Operations Unit became suspicious and the account was frozen a few days after the money had been received. But the gang managed to get £20,000 out.
Also involved in the crime were Singh’s business partner Hamel Bakrania, 36, of Leicester, Dennis Francis, 50, of Loughborough, Innocent Ohazurume, 50, of Lon- don, and Andrew Wormstone, 43, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
Singh, Bakrania, Francis, Wormstone and Ohuzurume were charged with arranging to launder the money stolen from the university.
Singh pleaded guilty to the charges and was jailed for three years and ten months on Friday.
The others denied the count but were convicted.
Bakrania was jailed for three-and-a-half years, while Francis and Ohazurume were each sentenced to three years in prison. Wormstone was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Detective Constable Nigel Tillings, of Sussex Police, said: “Offenders in these types of offences will always be looking for assistance from others in moving the stolen money and also to distance themselves from the offence.
"If successful, then these persons would have received payment for their part, but in this case they have been caught.”
A University of Sussex spokesman said: “The diversion of the funds was identified shortly after it took place and money was restored to the University accounts.”
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Comments(13)
Nathan AdIer
says...
1:27pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Is fraud really that easy?
SteveUK
says...
1:33pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Nathan AdIer wrote:*Were* going to pay? Read it again!
So this is a "leading" university who are producing our future doctors, lawyers, dentists and wotnot yet receive an invoice out of the blue for 2 million quid and the ruddy sods were going to pay for it!!!
Is fraud really that easy?
Vigilia
says...
1:43pm Sun 17 Feb 13
"A University of Sussex spokesman said: “The diversion of the funds was identified shortly after it took place and money was restored to the University accounts.”
Who should read it again?
mimseycal
says...
1:44pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Nathan AdIer wrote:I think you'll find that the various tutors have very little to do with the financial aspects of running the Uni.
So this is a "leading" university who are producing our future doctors, lawyers, dentists and wotnot yet receive an invoice out of the blue for 2 million quid and the ruddy sods were going to pay for it!!!
Is fraud really that easy?
hubby
says...
1:47pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Stick a bottle in someones face and you get community service.
Joke.
Money is always more important than people in the eyes of the law.
monkeymoo
says...
1:52pm Sun 17 Feb 13
What about all the MP's who did the same? I think only 1 of them served about 1 week in prison! I'm sure i'll be corrected on here soon though!
monkeymoo
says...
1:53pm Sun 17 Feb 13
upsidedowntuctuc
says...
2:34pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Whats funnier the name or the Town??
Tailgaters Anonymous
says...
2:40pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Clear lack of responsibility for authorising and paying proper invoices: pity help the future generation with this bunch as role models!
chilliman
says...
4:38pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Tailgaters Anonymous wrote:The lack of responsibilty for authorising and paying invoices is all too common in many non-commercial establishments. Equally, they don't seem to set up proper contracts, service level agreements or penalty clauses to make sure they get good value for our money..
University is bright maybe, lights on but nobody present!
Clear lack of responsibility for authorising and paying proper invoices: pity help the future generation with this bunch as role models!
mimseycal
says...
7:25pm Sun 17 Feb 13
qm
says...
12:50pm Mon 18 Feb 13
mimseycal wrote:No no, please stay mims, it had to be said ;)
Ah well, at least one convict who can legitimately claim he is Innocent.
Sorry, couldn't resist ... I'll get my coat
mimseycal says...
1:19pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Sorry, couldn't resist ... I'll get my coat