MPA Internal Audit Directorate – another successful prosecution for fraud

20/05
11 May 2005

Another successful prosecution for fraud has been secured following investigations initiated by the Forensic Audit Branch of the Metropolitan Police Authority Internal Audit Directorate.

A third self-employed linguist, Mr Mohammad Shafie, engaged by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), was sentenced on 9 May 2005 at Southwark Crown Court in relation to false claims for interpretation and translation work that has not taken place. He received a 12 months sentence, suspended for two years, fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 costs.

Peter Tickner, Director of Internal Audit said:

“The Forensic Audit Branch of MPA Internal Audit once again uncovered sufficient evidence of fraud to secure a successful prosecution.

“Our findings were passed on to the MPS’ Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) for criminal investigation by detectives from the unit. The judge commended the MPS for a clear presentation of the case and acknowledged that the initial investigative work, undertaken by MPA Internal Audit, had faced a difficult task uncovering the deceit”.

“This sends out a clear message that we will make every effort to ensure that public funds are not misappropriated within the MPS by securing convictions and recovering fraudulently claimed assets.“

Notes to editors

1. Previous successful prosecution of self-employed linguists:

On 2 April 2004 Ms Teresa Patricia Markovitch, a self-employed linguist engaged by the MPS, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court for nine counts of false accounting arising from claims made for services that she had not provided. She received a three months suspended sentence to run concurrently and ordered to pay £2000 costs and £2000 towards legal aid. The amount involved in the nine counts was in region of £5,000.

• Please see previous MPA press release 04-028 for full details of this case.

Mr Taher Chowdhry, also a self-employed linguist engaged by the MPS, appeared before Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October 2003 and pleaded guilty to six counts of false accounting arising from claims made for services that he had not provided. He was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment on each count, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £450 compensation to the MPS and £1,500 costs.

2. Successful recovery of £350,000 fraudulently claimed:

In December 2004 the Metropolitan Police Authority agreed an out of court settlement securing the repayment of £240,000 of falsely claimed fees from a linguist formerly used by the MPS. This followed an investigation by the MPA Internal Audit in 2002.

• Please see previous MPA press release 04-089 for full details of this case.

A further linguist has agreed to repay £95,000 and has given up his rights to any outstanding claims frozen when he was suspended from working for the MPS - a deal worth approx £110,000 to the MPA in recoveries.

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