Hospital manager took bribes from suppliers

In a statement, NHS Counter Fraud Authority said Hasan Abusheikha, 47, a theatre manager who used to work at St Albans City Hospital, has been found guilty of theft, fraud and bribery offences after a seven-week trial.

Two men who worked as suppliers to the trust have also been convicted. NHS CFA told St Albans Crown Court the total value of offences between the three men was more than £600,000.

It added in a statement: “The court heard that Abusheikha was in a position of responsibility within the NHS, where he was able to procure medical equipment on behalf of the trust.

“As part of his role, he was required to make purchase order requests for items required for surgical procedures carried out within the hospital.

“The investigation undertaken by the NHS CFA was able to prove that Abusheikha was in a relationship with two trust suppliers in which he accepted bribes to ensure that the trust procured medical equipment from the companies concerned.

“During the investigation Abusheikha’s house was searched, and a large number of orthopaedic implantable devices, surgical instruments and medical equipment with a value in excess of £65k was recovered. The investigation was able to prove that these had been stolen from the trust.”

Elmo Emanuel was found guilty of bribing Abusheikha. He was chief executive officer of two companies – Implants International Ltd and Xtremity Solutions Ltd – that were both supplying medical equipment to the hospital.

The companies said in a statement: “The evidence shows that the trust, NHS and the taxpayer made significant savings using products supplied by IIL”.

A second supplier, Jawid Khan, already pleaded guilty to one charge of bribing Abusheikha. He was a director of TSI Med Ltd, which is now dissolved.

The three men are due to be sentenced at a later date.

A spokesperson for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust, which runs St Albans City Hospital, said: “We are grateful for the action taken by NHS Counter Fraud Authority and for the time and considered judgement of the jurors. We will always alert and work in partnership with our NHS CFA colleagues if we suspect that public money is being diverted for personal gain.”