A man who defrauded American and German companies through fake personal protective equipment (PPE) deals during the Covid-19 pandemic has been sentenced to eight years in prison after spending the proceeds on luxury vehicles, watches and jewellery.
Jogesh Bhandari, 60, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court in July of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and concealing and transferring criminal property. He used a company named Banton to arrange fraudulent transactions involving millions of boxes of nitrile gloves that were never delivered.
The scam operated between late 2020 and early 2022, targeting US company Med18 and German firm MedTech. In one transaction in early 2021, more than $3.18 million was paid for gloves intended for American hospitals, but the order was never fulfilled. The court heard that Bhandari retained £1.75 million through the fraud.
Prosecutors also heard that Bhandari spent £126,000 on a Porsche and purchased an Audi A5, a Land Rover Discovery, Rolex watches and jewellery using the proceeds.
Sentencing him at Northampton Crown Court, Judge William Harbage KC described Bhandari as the principal figure behind the fraudulent operations. The judge also questioned the sincerity of his expressed remorse, given his strong contesting of the charges.
Craig Morris, who assisted in the transactions, received a three-year-and-nine-month prison sentence on October 7. Bhandari’s wife, Meenakashi Bhandari, 58, was convicted of concealing and transferring criminal property. She received a two-year suspended sentence, along with 250 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
The defence told the court that Bhandari had lost his family relationships and faced health concerns, including a recently fitted pacemaker. His lawyer also said he had attempted suicide following his conviction.
The case highlights how fraudulent PPE supply arrangements exploited urgent demand for medical equipment during the pandemic.
