Five Zimbabweans Sentenced To 10 Years For Fraud, Money Laundering In £300,000 NHS Scam

Zimbabwean Gang Gets 10-Year Sentence For NHS Fraud Totalling £300,000

Five Zimbabweans have been sentenced to a combined total of over ten years in prison for fraud and money laundering in a scam that targeted over £300,000 from the UK’s National Health Service. The sentences, a mix of immediate custody and suspended terms, were handed down at Southwark Crown Court on Friday 30 January 2026.

The ringleader, former NHS credit controller Edias Mazambani, 42, was sentenced to three years and eight months in immediate prison. He had pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position on 3 September 2025. His four co-defendants were convicted of money laundering. George Magaya, 49, received a sentence of three years and two months in prison. The three other defendants, Michelle Tengende, 40, Sinqobile Pasipanodya, 43, and Rosemary Magaya, 37, received suspended prison sentences totalling four years. This brings the full sentence tally to ten years and ten months.

How The Elaborate Fraud Was Uncovered

The plot was first detected by alert finance staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. They identified suspicious refund requests for money held on behalf of patients. An internal investigation revealed Mazambani, who had access to secure financial databases, was linked to the bank accounts receiving the fraudulent payments.

Financial investigators from the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) used Proceeds of Crime Act powers to trace the stolen money. They established that Mazambani had facilitated fake refund claims, with funds being transferred to accounts controlled by the other defendants. Documents relating to trust refunds were later recovered from Mazambani’s home.

The NHSCFA investigation confirmed over £218,000 (approx. R5.2 million) in fraudulent refunds was paid out. A further £84,000 (approx. R2 million) in claims was stopped, bringing the total attempted fraud value to more than £302,000. Financial analysis showed the co-defendants received substantial sums, which were often transferred back to Mazambani, George Magaya, and Rosemary Magaya.

NHS Fraud Chief Says Sentencing Reflects Seriousness Of The Crime

Ben Harrison, Head of Operations at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, provided a statement on the case. He emphasised the breach of trust involved.

“This sentencing reflects the seriousness of abusing a trusted position within the NHS for personal gain,” Harrison said.

He detailed how the fraud was orchestrated, stating:

“Mazambani exploited his access to sensitive financial systems to orchestrate a fraud that targeted funds held on behalf of patients, with others knowingly involved in laundering the proceeds.”

Harrison also praised the efforts that stopped the scam.

“Thanks to the vigilance of the trust’s finance team and our investigators’ use of Proceeds of Crime Act powers, significant losses were identified and further fraud was prevented. We will continue to work closely with NHS organisations to protect public money and hold those responsible to account.”

The Sentences Handed Down At Court

At the sentencing hearing on 30 January 2026, the court imposed immediate custodial sentences on the two main perpetrators. Mazambani and George Magaya will serve a combined six years and ten months in prison. The three other defendants received suspended sentences. Tengende received a 12-month term suspended for two years. Pasipanodya and Rosemary Magaya each received 18-month sentences, also suspended for two years. Tengende and Pasipanodya were ordered to pay £1,000 (approx. R24,000) in costs by 31 December 2026.