Powys NHS managers jailed for £800k fraud using U2 band names
Three NHS managers have been jailed for defrauding a health board out of more than £800,000.
Mark Evill, Robert Howells and Michael Cope were jailed for a total of 14 years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday, after an investigation found they had misappropriated NHS money in Powys by receiving 'pay-offs' from external contractors.
Some of the construction work included projects at Welshpool Hospital, the children’s wing of Brecon Memorial Hospital, and Bronllys Hospital.
Evill, 47, of Shirenewton, Chepstow, was said to have organised the fraud and was jailed for seven years after changing his pleas on charges of transferring criminal property, fraud and perverting the course of justice.
Howells, 65, of Sudbury, Chepstow, also changed his pleas to guilty on fraud charges and was jailed for four years, with Cope, 43, of Garden City, Merthyr Tydfil, jailed for three years for his part in the scam.
Pay-offs
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Friday how Evill and Howells were both employed through Resourcing Group Agency as project managers for the health board’s estates department, while Cope was employed directly by the board as a senior estate manager.
An anonymous allegation was received via the NHS Fraud & Corruption Reporting Line, which stated that Evill and Howells had misappropriated NHS money by receiving 'pay-offs' from external contractors.
Evill’s responsibilities included sourcing external contractors, approving tenders and quotes, authorising payments of invoices and verifying work completed.
A water supplies and electrical supply project was allocated £342,000 by PTHB, and Evill directed that a specific contractor named George Morgan Ltd be used.
An investigation conducted by NHS CFS Wales confirmed that George Morgan Ltd was actually set up and run by Evill, with the intention of paying himself for the work he was supposed to be contracting out on behalf of PTHB.
Under the guise of George Morgan Ltd, Evill invoiced the health board using false names 'Paul Hewson' and 'David Evans', the real names of Bono and The Edge from band U2, making over £822,000.
The investigation established that Evill spent approximately £300,000 of the defrauded monies on a number of properties in and around Aberdare, South Wales, and went on luxury holidays which included flying business class to Dubai. He also bought expensive watches and motor vehicles.
Efforts will now be made to recover the money.
Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive of Powys Teaching Health Board, said: "The people of Powys have been badly let down by the criminal actions of these individuals.
"I would like to thank NHS Counter Fraud Service Wales for their support which has helped to bring this successful prosecution, and also for the steps they will now be taking to support the NHS to recover the proceeds of this fraud.”
