Hospital worker sentenced for using dead patient’s bank card to buy snacks

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A health worker from a COVID-19 ward in Birmingham, England was sentenced to jail for using her elderly patient’s bank card less than 20 minutes after the woman’s death.

Ayesha Basharat, who works at a local hospital, pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by false representation during a court hearing on Wednesday, June 9. She used the card of an 83-year-old patient (name withheld) to make several £1 (around P68) purchases from vending machines, as per Birmingham Mail on Thursday, June 10.

Basharat managed to buy chips, sweets and drinks before the card was canceled during her shift the following day. She still had the victim’s card when she was arrested by police.

The suspect initially said that she found the card on the floor and had it “muddled up” with her own bank card, which was of a different color. It was also heard in court that Basharat ignored hospital protocol about the loss of patients’ property.

Police described Basharat’s actions as an “abhorrent breach of trust and distressing for the victim’s family.”

“They were having to come to terms with the death of a loved one from [COVID-19] when they found the bank card missing – and [then, of course, the realization] that the card was taken by someone who should have been caring for her,” police were quoted as saying.

Basharat was given two concurrent jail terms of five months each, both of which are suspended for 18 months. Dana Cruz/JB

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