A shocking case of greed and betrayal has emerged as an NHS doctor and her husband were sentenced for stealing and selling vital personal protective equipment (PPE) meant for frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Saliha Mahmood, 38, and her husband Mohammed Haseeb, 34, exploited the desperate shortage of protective gear to line their own pockets, selling stolen masks, gloves, and gowns from Homerton University Hospital in London where Mahmood worked.
The Brazen PPE Heist
The couple's criminal enterprise came to light when hospital staff noticed significant shortages of essential equipment. An investigation revealed that Mahmood had been systematically stealing PPE from hospital stores, which her husband then sold through his business, Medisort UK Ltd.
"This was a calculated betrayal of the NHS and her colleagues at a time of national crisis," said Detective Constable Daniel Wright, who led the investigation. "While NHS staff were risking their lives with inadequate protection, these individuals saw an opportunity for personal gain."
Justice Served
At Inner London Crown Court, Mahmood was sentenced to three years in prison while Haseeb received a two-year sentence. Judge Benedict Kelleher condemned their actions as "a gross breach of trust" that endangered lives during the pandemic's peak.
The court heard how the couple made over £17,000 from their illegal scheme between March and May 2020, a period when healthcare workers were dying from COVID-19 due to inadequate protection.
NHS Responds
A spokesperson for Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust stated: "We are appalled by this criminal behavior. The NHS relies on the integrity of all its staff, and this individual's actions do not represent our values."
The case has raised serious questions about security protocols for medical supplies in NHS hospitals and the need for stronger oversight to prevent similar abuses in future emergencies.
