2013-03-01 13:18:08 -

Monthly billing scam went on for nearly 3 decades defrauding HCA International

The 62 year old owner of a wedding venue in Cornwall admitted defrauding her employers out of £1.14million over a 29 year period and entered a guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Anne Baker, 62, of Manderley, South Petherwin, Cornwall, pleaded guilty at Southwark to committing fraud offences totalling £1.14 million.

Mrs Baker was employed as a Radiology Manager for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in one of its London facilities, and retired in March 2012 following 29 years service.

HCA is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world.

As of 2012, HCA operated 162 hospitals and 112 surgery centers located in 20 U.S. states and

in London. The London sites include The Harley Street Clinic, The Lister Hospital, London Bridge Hospital, The Portland Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital and The Wellington Hospital.

Suspicions were first raised when an internal audit back in 2012 uncovered a series of invoices that had been submitted on a monthly basis for 'radiology fees' incurred by a 'Dr Baker'. Each one had been signed off and authorised for payment by Mrs Anne Baker using her maiden name of Anne Fitzpartick.

The invoices had been raised on a monthly basis on the 1st of each month, beginning in 1998 and concluding in 2012, totalling £1,142,101.97.

Following a 6 month investigation by officers from Westminster's Economic and Complex Crime unit, Anne Baker was arrested in August 2012 on suspicion of false accounting, fraud, abuse of position and money laundering.

Balita Pinoy contacted HCA in London but a spokesman there would only confirm that Baker was a former employee and that HCA had co-operated with the police.

He would not answer questions as to how the fraud had gone undetected for 29 years.

For full story, click link below:

www.balitapinoy.net/journal/845807/Fraudster_Netted_114M_In_29_Y ..