Latest news with #ZholiaAlemi
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Bogus doctor who faked degree and trousered £1.2m ordered to pay back less than half
A fake doctor jailed for fraudulently acting as a psychiatrist for more than 20 years has been ordered to pay back more than £400,000 to the NHS or face more time in jail. Zholia Alemi was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a string of fraud offences. The 62-year-old claimed to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995. READ MORE: Unexpected chaos in the bagging area during Greater Manchester Morrisons mayhem READ MORE: Missing Brit Greg Monks who disappeared after Portugal stag do found dead Alemi, from Burnley, moved around the country to work in a series of posts including in Greater Manchester to ensure 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her, the court heard. Alemi worked 'more or less continuously' for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, earning an estimated £1.3m. Now a judge has ordered her to pay £406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody. The judge determined that that Alemi's crimes meant she trousered more than £1.2m but that the amount available to to be clawed back was £406,624. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. 'She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. 'Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.' Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient. Following her conviction, journalist Phil Coleman, chief reporter for Cumbrian Newspapers, made inquiries into Alemi's background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told. His inquiries led to Cumbria Police further probing Alemi's background. Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, where she failed to complete the bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree required to practise as a doctor and was refused permission to resit. Her Manchester trial heard how the bogus doctor obtained registration as a doctor after going to the UK's General Medical Council (GMC) in 1995 with numerous forged documents. These included a degree certificate, a letter of verification and letters of reference from a hospital in Pakistan. She gained registration and practiced in Northern Ireland and Manchester before reaching consultant status in 2003 after passing assessments with the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Alemi was employed as a section 12 practitioner in 2012, a role which held authority to section patients. Alemi practiced throughout the United Kingdom for several years before moving to Cumbria where she came to the attention of detectives in the west of the county following concerns raised by Cumbria Adult Social Care safeguarding leads. It was then established Alemi had never actually qualified as a doctor. A significate international investigation was launched led by detectives from west Cumbria, supported by partners in the NHS Counter Fraud Authority. Police searched properties in England and Northern Ireland and seized a forged certificate from the university. Enquiries also found a hospital in Pakistan used as a reference by Alemi had never existed. Several enquires and investigations in New Zealand and the UK ensued.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Fake doctor Zholia Alemi ordered to pay back thousands or face more jail time
A woman who faked having a medical degree from a top New Zealand university – earning about $2 million in wages over two decades – has been ordered to pay thousands back or face more jail time. Iranian-Kiwi Zholia Alemi worked as a psychiatrist for the United Kingdom's National Health
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fake doctor ordered to pay NHS £400k or face serving two extra years in prison
A bogus shrink has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than £400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison. Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a string of fraud offences. Having forged her qualifications, she worked as psychiatrist on both sides of the Border earning up to £1.3million before she was caught. Alemi claimed to have a degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995. She moved around the country to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her, the court heard. Alemi, from Burnley, Lancashire, worked 'more or less continuously' for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This week a judge ordered her to pay £406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. 'Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. 'In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. 'Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.' Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient. Following her conviction, a journalist made inquiries into Alemi's background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told. His inquiries led to Cumbria Police further probing Alemi's background. Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, but never completed her medical degree.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fake psychiatrist must pay back £400k to NHS for ‘cheating the public'
A bogus psychiatrist has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than £400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison. Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a series of fraud offences. Alemi claimed to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995. She moved around England to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her, the court heard. Alemi worked 'more or less continuously' for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, earning an estimated £1.3 million. This week, a judge ordered her to pay £406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. 'Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. 'In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. 'Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits of more than £1 million, to which she was not entitled. 'She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.' Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient. Following her conviction, journalist Phil Coleman, chief reporter for Cumbrian Newspapers, made inquiries into Alemi's background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told. His inquiries led to Cumbria police to investigate Alemi's background. Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, where she failed to complete the degree required to practise as a doctor and was refused permission to resit. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bogus doctor told to pay NHS more than £400,000 or face longer jail term
A bogus psychiatrist has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than £400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison. Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a string of fraud offences. Alemi claimed to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995. She moved around the country to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her, the court heard. Alemi, from Burnley, Lancashire, worked 'more or less continuously' for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, earning an estimated £1.3 million. This week a judge ordered her to pay £406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. 'Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. 'Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1 million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.' Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient. Following her conviction, journalist Phil Coleman, chief reporter for Cumbrian Newspapers, made inquiries into Alemi's background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told. His inquiries led to Cumbria Police further probing Alemi's background. Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, where she failed to complete the bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree required to practise as a doctor and was refused permission to resit.
