Jailed for 29 years, four men behind 'corrosive' campaign of corruption that drained NHS of millions
Their crimes involved the awarding of lucrative NHS contracts to an Ayrshire telecoms firm set up in a garden shed.
Jurors heard details of widespread corruption, including managers being bribed into awarding large contracts with gifts worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Adam Sharoudi, 41, of Motherwell, and Gavin Brown, 48, of Prestwick in Ayrshire, ran Oricom Ltd - a firm which effectively started from a shed but went on to secure major deals.
The pair were able to win the contracts with the help of NHS workers Alan Hush, 68, and 60-year-old Gavin Cox, who accepted lucrative payments and gifts.
All four men denied the accusations but in April were found guilty following a three-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Hush was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of nine charges.
Cox was locked up for six years for the two charges jurors convicted him of.
Sharoudi was also handed an eight year term having been convicted of seven charges and Brown was jailed for seven years for a total of six.
The charges spanning between 2010 and 2015 included bribery, corruption, fraud, theft as well as others under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
One stated Sharoudi and Brown did 'acquire, use and possess' a total of £5,719,244 of 'criminal property' paid by NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as well as NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Judge Lord Arthurson said: 'Such is the corrosive effect of corruption upon commercial and public life, individuals such as yourselves should expect to be dealt with robustly by the courts.
'The public should expect their fellow citizens should not seek to subvert public officials in their duties.
'Such officials should note that, succumbing to bribery, will result in the handing down of significant terms.
'The reach and character of the corruption and, in particular, the corrupt relationship engaged by all of you was on a grand scale.'
The court heard how Hush, of Edinburgh, received handouts including hotel stays, concert tickets, meals and a laptop for his help in getting business for Oricom, including a £750,000 contract with NHS Lothian.
Cox, of Glasgow, handed Oricom information to give them a 'commercial advantage' to secure business.
His 'rewards' were said to have included thousands of pounds of Barrhead Travel holiday vouchers which he spent on trips to New York and Lanzarote.
The four accused all gave evidence in the case which sat for 65 days - testimony described by the judge yesterday as 'self serving, arrogant and mendacious'.
The court heard how all four maintained their innocence.
Hush's lawyer Keith Stewart said the jury had concluded there was a 'corrupt relationship' between Hush and Oricom carried out in 'plain sight' and based on 'budgets hotels and discounted rail fares'.
Gordon Martin, defending Cox, said he was 'ashamed at the findings of guilt' as he had been 'a public servant for 31 years and rightfully proud of that service'.
Sharoudi's defence KC Brian McConnachie told the hearing the NHS work carried out by Oricom was 'necessary' and it was not a 'situation of job creation' for money.
He said Sharoudi had overcome a number of issues growing up to gain a first class honours degree in maths and philosophy before helping build Oricom.
Tony Graham KC, defending Brown, said he was someone who had 'worked every day since he left school' providing 'employment for many others over many years'.
Sharoudi and Brown have also been banned from being a company director for the next 10 years.
Following the hearing, Sineidin Corrins, Deputy Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This was a betrayal of public trust.
'These four men colluded to create a sophisticated criminal scheme. The public will rightly be shocked by the scale of their criminality.
'The scale of this offending against our public health service is particularly egregious.'
She said the men will now face separate hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act, adding: 'This case demonstrates clearly that those who indulge in corrupt practices for their own personal gain will be brought to book regardless of the time it takes to bring offenders to justice.
'The Proceeds of Crime proceedings that will follow demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay and that illicitly obtained funds are recovered where possible.'
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