A ZIMBABWEAN man who used fake education certificates to train as a nurse in the UK has been given a suspended 18-month jail sentence and ordered to repay £49,500.
Shepherd Chitowo, 36, of Axe Close, Luton, pleaded guilty to two charges -- obtaining a money transfer by deception and using a forged GCE Certificate to get a university place to train as a nurse at the Luton Crown Court.
He was told to pay compensation of £49,016 in total: £30,471.85 to the Bursary Unit of the NHS Business Services Authority and the remainder to the East of England Strategic Health Authority for his university course fee.
He must also ordered to pay £500 in court costs.
Chitowo was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2002 and in February 2006 applied for a place at the University of Bedfordshire to study for the Diploma in Higher Education Nursing (Mental Health).
He produced a GCE Certificate stating he had passed examinations in six subjects at grade A or B, which was not true. He was accepted on the course, which he completed in 2009, on this basis.
After he graduated, university authorities were alerted to suspicions of fraud and the case was referred to the NHS Counter Fraud Service in 2010. Their investigation revealed that the certificate was false, and had he been honest about his qualifications, they would not have been adequate to be admitted to the course.
As well as having his study funded by the NHS, Chitowo received an NHS student bursary which included additional support claimed because he had children.
Frank Ginnelly, Eastern Operational Fraud Manager, NHS Counter Fraud Service said: "An expert from Cambridge International Examinations confirmed his real qualifications, and that his certificate was false.
“Chitowo will not be able to continue as a nurse. By lying in his application he might have deprived a legitimate applicant of a place on this valuable course.
“We understand why the public is so shocked by such cases. But they should be reassured that the vast majority of nurses are honest."
Dr Moira Hampson from the University of Bedfordshire Health and Social Science Registry said: "We worked closely with the NHS Counter Fraud Service to investigate this case and ensure the necessary action was taken.
“We are constantly reviewing our systems and processes to ensure that only legitimate applicants with valid documentation are accepted on our courses."