Ex-NHS worker sentenced for fraud against public money

A former NHS credit controller has been sentenced for committing fraud that cost taxpayers more than £20,000, with attempts to steal an additional £100,000.

Edias Mazambani, 42, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court and was sentenced on 30th January 2026 to three years and eight months in prison. 

Mazambani worked in the finance department of Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (GSST), where he submitted false refund requests for money held on account for hospital trust clients. These funds often emerged from overpayments on previous invoices. 

The investigation, led by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), revealed that between December 2016 and January 2019 Mazambani authorised 34 payments totalling £218,306.84. 

A further ten payments, which could have added £84,492.67 to the loss, were prevented by the NHSCFA.

The money was routed through multiple accounts belonging to other defendants and Mazambani personally received at least £78,123.93.

However, Mazambani didn’t act alone. George Magaya, 49, pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering for receiving £23,623.92 and was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

His wife, Rose Magaya, 37, was also found guilty of two counts of money laundering and acquiring criminal property totalling £19,071.31. She received an 18-month suspended sentence for two years.

Sinqobile Pasipandoya, 43, received £106,288.87 and was given an 18-month suspended sentence for two years, while Michelle Tengende, 40, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years after receiving £20,180.37.

Shilpa Chauhan, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: ‘Edias Mazambani’s actions amounted to an appalling breach of trust. He exploited his position to steal vital taxpayer funds from the NHS and conspired with others to launder hundreds of thousands of pounds through their personal bank accounts.

‘The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with the police and NHS investigators to uncover the full extent of the fraud and expose the defendants’ deception. We are pleased that they have now been brought to justice.

‘We will now commence Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings against the convicted individuals to recover the criminally obtained funds and assets.’

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm

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