Portsmouth Doctor Admits £1m Fraud

A Portsmouth doctor defrauded a healthcare alliance of more than £1 million.

Rumi Chhapia, 45, of Lennox Road North, Southsea, admitted one charge of fraud by abuse of position when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 22nd September 2021.

Fraud by abuse of position is an offence under section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 10 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.

Magistrates heard that Chhapia, formerly a GP with the city's Portsdown Group Practice, was a director of Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance Limited - a group of 16 general practices providing out-of-hours care in the Portsmouth area.

He was left in sole charge of the company's finances when a fellow director was signed off sick last summer.

Between August and September 2020, Chhapia siphoned more than £1 million from the company's accounts.

Lucy Linington, prosecuting, said: "In a 41-day period this defendant has embezzled £1,133,704.50.

"I understand that £230,000 has been repaid by this defendant but that leaves the astonishing amount of £903,704.50 outstanding to the Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance Limited.

"The abuse of trust in this case is significant because this defendant was a director at the time.

"Primarily, you have a significant amount of money that has been embezzled by this defendant.

"It won't surprise you to learn that the Crown would say this matter should be submitted to the Crown Court."

Magistrates agreed that the likely sentence was outwith their sentencing powers.

Ryan Rutlidge JP, Presiding Justice, told Chhapia: "You have heard what's been said today. We are committing you to Portsmouth Crown Court because this matter is so serious that we feel you need even greater punishment than we can give."

Magistrates ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and granted Chhapia unconditional bail until his sentencing hearing on 22nd October 2021.

Update (6/11/21): Chhapia has now been sentenced.