Indian-origin couple sentenced in UK for Covid PPE fraud; millions spent on luxuries

Both were found guilty in July but sentenced in October An Indian-origin businessman has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the UK for defrauding companies through fake personal protective equipment (PPE) supply deals during the Covid-19 pandemic and using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including luxury cars, expensive watches and home renovations.Jogesh Bhandari, 59, from Loughborough, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on October 16 after failing to attend two earlier sentencing hearings, citing health issues. A judge subsequently ordered his arrest, according to Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA).Meanwhile, his wife, Meenakshi (Meena) Bhandari, and business associate Craig Morris, 43, were sentenced on October 7. Meena received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with 250 hours of unpaid community work, while Morris was jailed for three years and nine months.The three were convicted of fraud and money laundering offences following a five-week trial in July.Investigators found that Bhandari and Morris had set up a company in 2020 to trade nitrile gloves, which were in high demand during the pandemic. They worked with Frank Labruzzo, a ...