London (Special Report): Three individuals involved in a fraud worth millions of pounds related to the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been found guilty by a UK court. According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), the accused spent money obtained from investors and buyers on luxury cars, expensive watches, jewellery, overseas holidays, and home renovations instead of purchasing protective gloves.

According to the investigation, Jogesh Bhandari established a company in 2020 to supply nitrile gloves, while Craig Morris represented the company in various contracts. Authorities stated that the accused entered into agreements for the supply of gloves worth millions of pounds. However, instead of using the received funds to purchase gloves, the money was spent on repaying personal debts, buying a new Porsche, and carrying out extensive renovations to a house.

The NCA stated that bank records revealed that the Bhandari family spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on Rolex and other luxury watches, jewellery, an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, a Volkswagen Golf, several other vehicles, and luxury travel packages around the world, while not a single pound was spent on the actual purpose for which the investment had been provided.

Messages uncovered during the investigation showed that Craig Morris wrote, “The news is full of PPE shortages everywhere. It’s a great opportunity to make money—make the most of it.” Bhandari replied, “It’s about good teamwork and everyone making money.”

According to the NCA, all three accused were arrested in 2023, and the court has now found them guilty of fraud charges. In its statement, the agency said that action against individuals involved in financial crimes that harm the UK’s economy will continue in the future.