Fraud on the NHS

RNS Number:9965A
Serious Fraud Office
05 April 2006


Fraud on the National Health Service


The Serious Fraud Office investigation into price fixing and market sharing by
suppliers of generic drugs, specifically, warfarin and penicillin based
antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, flucloxacillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin)
has led to criminal proceedings being brought.

Today, 5 April 2006, the Serious Fraud Office begins criminal proceedings
against nine individuals and five companies alleging conspiracy to defraud in
relation to the pricing and supply of warfarin, the branded drug Marevan, and
penicillin based antibiotics between January 1996 and December 2000.

The nine individuals who will be charged when they surrender their bail over the 
next three days are:


-    Denis William O'Neill, of Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited
-    John Stephen Clark, of Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited
-    Jonathan Raymond Close, formerly of Norton Healthcare Limited
-    Nicholas Mark Foster, formerly of Norton Healthcare Limited
-    Luma Auchi, formerly of Regent-GM Laboratories Limited (now in liquidation)
-    Michael John Frederick Sparrow, formerly of Generics (UK) Limited
-    Anil Kumar Sharma, formerly of Ranbaxy (UK) Limited
-    Ajit Ramanlal Patel, of Goldshield Group Plc
-    Kirti Vinubhai Patel, of Goldshield Group Plc


Summonses issued by Bow Street Magistrates on Monday 3 April 2006 are also
being served today upon the following five companies and their legal 
representatives:


-    Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited
-    Norton Healthcare Limited
-    Generics (UK) Limited
-    Ranbaxy (UK) Limited
-    Goldshield Group PLC (formerly Goldshield Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited)


The individuals will be bailed following charge to attend Bow Street Magistrates
Court on 27 April when the companies are also required to be represented.

The Case Controller, Assistant Director Philip Lewis, says:  "This important 
case involving an allegation of dishonest price fixing by companies is likely to
have a significant impact upon the business culture of this country".


Serious Fraud Office
Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ
Tel. [phone]/7190     Mobile [phone]



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