Five men to stand trial accused of £6.5m scam linked to Ayrshire firm
It follows an investigation into the award of contracts to NHS boards including Ayrshire and Arran and Glasgow to Oricom Ltd based in Irvine
Five men are to stand trial following a £6.5m corruption and bribery probe at health boards across Scotland, linked to an Ayrshire telecommunications firm.
The group were held after investigations into the award of lucrative NHS contracts to Oricom Ltd - based in Irvine.
Three men listed as directors of the company are among the accused who feature on the 15 page indictment detailing 26 charges.
Alleged scam took place across five NHS boards in Scotland
It’s alleged Adam Sharoudi, 40, Gavin Brown, 46, and David Bailey, 46, did "acquire, use and possess" a total of £6,501, 149 of allegedly "criminal property" paid by the health boards of NHS Lothian, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Prosecutors claim the firm illegally secured work for "the supply, installation and maintenance of telecommunication and video conferencing equipment and services" at various health board premises.
Alan Hush, 67, and Gavin Cox, 46, were also allegedly involved.
Hush is listed on the indictment as telecommunications manager at NHS Lothian and then NHS Scotland video conferencing service manager.
Cox is described at the time as NHS Lanarkshire head of IT and infrastructure.
Court papers list a string of accusations including taking bribes, corruption, fraud, theft and Oricom directors being given "commercially sensitive information".
The allegations span between January 2010 and August 2017.
"Gifts" and "bribes" included hotel stays, flights and horse racing tickets
Among the charges are claims Hush was given £26,981 of London hotel stays, food, drink, cash, concert tickets, laptop, and computer software.
Prosecutors claim he was given "reward and inducement" for "causing the award of procurements" for the benefit of Oricom.
Hush is said to have done something illegal with the "orders" so that they would fall into his level of "authorisation" and "prevent scrutiny" by senior bosses.
Other claims detailed are that Hush alleged £1,430-worth of mobile phones were needed for NHS Lothian staff - but that he instead gave them to others.
Bills totalling £5,283 were then said to have been paid by the health board.
Prosecutors further claim Oricom directors were involved in similar "corrupt practices" with Alexander Stewart, who was described as NHS Lanarkshire telecommunications manager. He is listed as since having passed away.
Mr Stewart is said to have been given £77,460 of money, hotels stays, hospitality and plane tickets. A relative also allegedly had a £1,400 trip to Seamill Hydro in Ayrshire paid for.
Oricom directors are also accused of bribing co-accused Gavin Cox during his time at NHS Lanarkshire.
Cox allegedly accepted £120,636 of similar gifts - as well as a television and wall bracket.
He also used some of the money given to pay for an "extension and landscaping" at a property in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire.
Prosecutors claim Oricom went on to secure £3.7m of work with the health board.
Another official said to have worked for both NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was also allegedly "rewarded" in a bid to get further business for the company.
A senior employee at NHS Ayrshire and Arran health board is finally said to have been given items such as tickets to the horse racing, an iPad and a phone with Oricom then getting work from that health board.
Case will be heard in Glasgow in January 2025
The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday. All five accused had their attendance excused.
Lawyers Ronnie Renucci KC, solicitor advocate Gordon Martin, Brian McConnachie KC and Tony Graham KC pled not guilty on behalf of the first four.
No plea was entered by Calum Weir, who was representing Bailey.
But, the defence lawyers all agreed a trial should be set.
Lord Arthurson went on to fix a trial due to begin in Glasgow in January 2025.
The case could last around 15 to 16 weeks.
Hush, of Leith, Edinburgh, Cox, of Cathcart, Glasgow, Sharoudi, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Brown, of Prestwick, Ayrshire and Bailey, of Hooton, Cheshire, remain on bail meantime.
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