Three individuals charged in alleged international PPE fraud investigation

An investigation into international personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud has led to three individuals, among them a married couple, appearing in court following their formal charging. The National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that Jogesh Bhandari, aged 58, and Craig Morris, aged 41, each face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. These charges are connected to a plan designed to profit from the scarcity of PPE during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Meenakshi Bhandari, 56, wife of Mr. Bhandari, has been charged with money laundering. All three defendants entered pleas of not guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court earlier this week. They have been granted bail and are scheduled to appear at Leicester Crown Court on December 16 for a hearing concerning their plea and trial preparation. The NCA indicated that investigators suspect the defendants “brokered sale agreements to supply nitrile gloves to companies in the US and Germany worth over $35m (£26.9m)”. According to the NCA, the three individuals collectively may have defrauded these companies of nearly £1.9 million ($2.35 million). Mr. and Mrs. Bhandari, residents of Loughborough, Leicestershire, made their court appearance on Wednesday. Mr. Morris, who resides in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, appeared on Monday.