A cheating GP embezzled more than £1million in less than two months in a ‘significant’ abuse of trust.
Dr Rumi Chhapia now faces a hefty jail sentence after defrauding a healthcare group out of the staggering amount of money.
The 45-year-old physician from Southsea, Hampshire, took advantage after a fellow director went off sick.
Prosecutors say he was handed access to crucial business accounts, which is how he managed to steal so much money in just 41 days.
The GP appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today where he was charged with fraud.
Standing in the dock wearing a pink shirt, tie and a face mask, Chhapia pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Lucy Linington told the court: ‘In a 41-day period this defendant has embezzled £1,133,704.50.
‘And at the time of this offence he was an appointed director of what is otherwise known as the Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance Limited.’
Known as the PPCA, it is a group of 16 GP surgeries which provide out-of-hours care for Portsmouth.
Ms Linington added: ‘At the time of this offence a director was signed off sick and therefore gave doctor Chhapia the freedom and the permission at that stage to have access to the business accounts of the PPCA.’
She said the abuse of trust involved in the offence was ‘significant’ due to Chhapia’s position at the PPCA and the amount of money involved.
Chhapia has since repaid £233,000, magistrates were told, but almost £904,000 is still outstanding.
The doctor, from Southsea, Portsmouth, was told that his offending was so serious that he must be sentenced at the Crown Court.
He was released on bail and is expected to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on October 22.
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