Basildon Crown Court has ordered four health experts convicted of defrauding the NHS involving 14,000 hours they did not work have been ordered to repay more than £575,000 or face further time in prison.
John Mulholland, Martin Oliver, Ann Clements and Tom Cumberland were all jailed for their parts in the scam.
After they were jailed, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Proceeds of Crime Unit began proceedings to recover the defrauded funds.
Following a ruling at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, 24 November, the group was ordered to pay £350,946.23 to NHS Protect, £168,593.28 to Basildon & Thurrock NHS Trust – and £57,599.66 to HM Treasury.
The court ruled that failure to pay would result in additional prison sentences of 21 months for Mulholland and 18 months for Oliver, Clements and Cumberland.
Mulholland must also pay CPS costs of £75,000.
After the hearing, Head of CPS Proceeds of Crime Nick Price said:
“A respected role in a well-paid job wasn't enough for these people – and so they fraudulently claimed extra payments out of pure greed.
“Our work continues to ensure that criminals will not benefit from their crimes.
“This ruling means we will be able to make these fraudsters pay back the money they stole from the NHS – and ultimately the taxpayer.”
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