Salesman jailed for £3m Edinburgh uni cleaning products fraud

A salesman has been jailed for seven years for a £3.3m cleaning products fraud at the University of Edinburgh.

Aasim Johar, 53, colluded with senior manager at the university Geoff Turnbull – who has since died.

Goods were ordered and paid for, despite not being required and on some occasions not delivered.

Johar denied the charges, but was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh of forming a fraudulent scheme between 2005 and 2015.

Judge Lord Lake told Johar, formerly of Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, that it was a “substantial and sustained fraud”.

The court heard that Johar and Mr Turnbull took advantage of lax financial controls at the university.

Mr Turnbull, who lived in North Berwick, was the former assistant director of estates and buildings at the university.

They obtained goods, hospitality, vouchers and £3.3m cash. They attempted to obtain a further £136,000 between June 2005 and November 2015.

Johar received an 8% commission on escalating sales with the institution while Mr Turnbull received gifts, vouchers and hospitality.

When police searched Mr Turnbull’s home in 2016 they found Marks and Spencer vouchers and gift cards for Tesco and Rocco Forte Hotels.

They also discovered iPads and iPhones bought from Universal Solutions International of Bromley, who Johar worked for in sales.