An investigation into alleged abuse at care homes in South Wales has concluded that one of the owners of the home should have been prosecuted.
BBC News reports that care home owner Dr Prana Das should have faced a trial for neglect, after a review by Dr Margaret Flynn found care providers at some homes “impervious” to older people's needs.
The review investigated six care homes in South Wales – Dr Prana Das was the owner of two of them.
His trial was halted after he suffered brain injury in a robbery, however – and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that it believes there is “insufficient evidence” for a conviction.
The investigation Operation Jasmine was launched by Gwent Police in 2005, after the death of an 84-year-old woman in care.
The investigation involved 75 police officers over a seven-year period and identified around 100 potential victims of neglect and poor care – including one patient whose pressure sores were so severe, her bones were exposed as a result.
In her review published on Tuesday (14/07/15), Dr Flynn was critical of the decision not to pursue a case against Dr Das because he remained as company director and company secretary for 564 days after the attack in which he sustained brain injury.
“I would like the CPS to review this again,” said Dr Flynn – adding that the “absence of a judgment or legal resolution compounds the families' grief and sense of grievance”.
Dr Flynn’s review recommends that the Director of Public Prosecutions should refer the Operation Jasmine investigation to the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division of the CPS.
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