PPE fraudster sentenced to eight years after splurging on Porsche, Rolex and holidays
Jogesh Bhandari received an eight-year prison term for a Covid-era PPE scam, during which he spent millions on luxury cars, watches and vacations.
A Leicester Crown Court trial concluded with Jogesh Bhandari, 60, being sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for orchestrating a fraudulent PPE scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bhandari claimed he could deliver massive quantities of nitrile gloves to a US firm, Med18, and a German company, MedTech, but supplied none, instead siphoning £1.75 million into lavish purchases including a £126,000 Porsche, an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, Rolex watches and expensive holidays.
He and 43-year-old accomplice Craig Morris were found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering. Judge William Harbage KC called Bhandari the “directing mind” of the enterprise, Banton, and noted his lack of genuine remorse. Bhandari’s wife, former pharmacist Meenakshi Bhandari, received a two-year suspended sentence for her role in laundering the proceeds. The case highlights the severe legal repercussions of exploiting emergency procurement during the pandemic.
Why it matters
The case shows how pandemic-related procurement fraud can lead to serious criminal penalties and underscores the need for tighter oversight.
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