Nurse jailed after stealing from patient

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 22:03

A NURSE who stole £72,000 from an Alzheimer's sufferer in his care was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday.

Abdool Hamuth, 65, forged his patient's signature on a string of cheques and used part of the proceeds to pay for his son's wedding. He then fled to his native Mauritius, from where he wrote to the private nursing home he worked for, saying "unforeseen circumstances" had forced his resignation. He was eventually traced and extradited.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard the subsequent investigation raised concerns that the nurse may also have forged Alan Roberts' will before the 78-year-old died in October 2004. But Mark Paltenghi, prosecuting, said "evidential shortcomings" meant he could not be charged in connection with it.

Instead, Hamuth pled guilty to three counts of obtaining money transfers by deception in 2004. He also admitted two charges of attempting to do so – offences involving a couple of attempts to bank another cheque for 128,000.