A FIFTH Zimbabwean man has been jailed over the £1,3 million UK bank fraud ring.
Barnsley resident Dumisani Nyamyaro, 31, was convicted on March 10 on a charge of conspiracy to defraud over the theft of high value cheques from financial institutions in 2007.
And at the Leeds Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for four years.
West Yorkshire’s Detective Chief Superintendent Howard Crowther said after sentencing: "The sentencing of Nyamyaro now sees five men behind bars for 18-years under Operation Illmington, proving the commitment of the police and the criminal justice system to bring fraudsters to justice.
"West Yorkshire Police will not standby and allow people to benefit from the profits of their crimes as operations such as this demonstrates.”
Operation Illmington was launched by West Yorkshire Police in 2007, combining the force’s Economic Crime Unit, Operations Support Division, the Organised Crime Group and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams after high value cheques were intercepted and cashed.
Police swooped on 30 addresses around the UK last year, arresting at least 18 Zimbabweans in the dawn raids.
Four men have been jailed and three others handed community sentences over the fraud.
On May 29, Naison Mubaiwa, 34, of Leeds was jailed for three-and-half years.
Paddington Muzondiwa, 25, of Swindon was jailed for two years for his part in the fraud.
Mudavanhu Diza, 47, of Leeds was sentenced to five-and-half years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to defraud on March 19.
Charles Kanyimo, 35, of Wakefield was sentenced to three years imprisonment at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud in December 2008 and January 2009.
In February, two men aged 38 and a 25-year-old received cautions for theft and possession of articles used in connection with fraud.
A 34-year-old man received a community order requiring him to complete 180 hours of community service in connection with the operation.
Police say the investigation is still ongoing and 10 men and women who were also arrested in connection with the operation have been interviewed by detectives and released on bail pending further enquiries.