FRAUD CLAIM DOCTOR JAILED
A DOCTOR who fraudulently claimed tens of thousands of pounds from the NHS while claiming he was too sick to work has been jailed because he failed to repay the money.
Anthony Madu was a former specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology who had been employed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
But during his employment, he took thousands of pounds from the NHS while claiming to be too sick to work.
He also continued to work for other health boards including in Manchester, Yorkshire and the Midlands.
During his court case, Madu was described as “irresponsible and dishonest” and the cost to the four hospitals he defrauded was said to be £240,000.
He was taken to court and found guilty of fraud in 2014.
At the trial, the court heard Madu “was nowhere near” the level of clinical competence expected of a year five specialist registrar.
Judge David Wyn Morgan spared Madu an immediate jail sentence at the time because a psychiatric report said he would be at “high risk” of suicide if he was jailed.
At that time he was given a two-year suspended sentenced and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.
Judge Morgan said: “You have persuaded yourself of your innocence of these matters in the face of the evidence. “In pursuing a medical career in the UK you have overstretched yourself and have resorted to dishonesty to cover up your shortcomings.
“These convictions will make it impossible for you to practice medicine in the UK ever again.”
In June last year, at another court hearing, Madu was ordered to pay £73,000 back to the NHS within six months.
At that time he was warned that failing to pay the money would see him jailed.
Madu appealed that order but it was rejected by the Court of Appeal in April.
He failed to repay the £73,000 and appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court where he was jailed for two years.