Doctor and husband jailed for selling stolen hospital PPE on eBay

Doctor and husband jailed for selling stolen hospital PPE on eBay

In a shocking turn of events during the Covid-19 pandemic, an NHS doctor and her husband have been sentenced to 10 months in jail for unlawfully selling stolen hospital PPE on eBay. Dr. Attiya Sheikh, aged 46, and her husband Omer Sheikh, aged 48, managed to pocket nearly £8,000 from the sales of personal protective equipment while the virus was rapidly spreading across the UK in 2020. This unethical act took place at a time when the NHS was facing challenges in obtaining an adequate supply of essential protective gear.

The couple’s deceitful actions were brought to light after NHS Scotland supplier Fannin noticed its products being sold on the online auction platform. The lawyer representing Attiya Sheikh, John Scullion KC, expressed his client’s remorse over the incident, emphasizing her acknowledgment of the severity of the breach of trust that had occurred. Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill, presiding over the case at Paisley Sheriff Court, condemned the doctor’s actions as a flagrant betrayal of trust, particularly given her role at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride.

As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that the Sheikhs resold stolen PPE items such as gloves and wipes via multiple eBay accounts, fetching prices ranging from £15 to £20 per box. The search of their residence in Thornliebank yielded a substantial stash of 121 boxes of rubber gloves in the attic, shedding light on the extent of their illicit venture. Despite initial claims by Attiya Sheikh suggesting she had received the goods from an unidentified person at the hospital, further inquiries failed to substantiate this narrative.

Sheriff Gill, while passing the sentence, underscored the severity of the couple’s offense, noting that their actions had transpired during a period of heightened global fear and uncertainty at the dawn of the pandemic. She highlighted the critical shortage of PPE faced by the NHS and its implications for the safety of healthcare workers and their families. Gordon Young, the head of NHS Scotland counter fraud services, unequivocally condemned the couple’s actions as “outrageous,” citing the moral bankruptcy of profiteering from essential medical supplies in times of crisis

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