Genesis IT fraudster jailed for five years

Adeshola Dada, 51, of Watts Crescent Purfleet, Thurrock, stole more than £138,000 from Genesis with the help of three money launderers. He hijacked the identities of colleagues at Genesis to make a series of transfers to his associates.

Staff at Barclays became suspicious just in time to stop a further £290,090 being stolen away from the 34,000-home association. The social landlord began an investigation in 2011 following the payments of £138,788 and £290,090.

The judge, Ms Recorder Cheryl Jones sentencing Mr Dada at Southwark Crown Court last Thursday, said: “Placing your own employees under suspicion is a very uncomfortable position for an employer to find themselves in.” Mr Dada was found guilty of two counts of fraud.

Ansar Ali, 43, of Limehouse Causeway, Tower Hamlets, Danielle Brown, 24, of Benworth Street, Tower Hamlets, and James McMasters, 24, of The Heights, Northolt, Middlesex, received suspended sentences for helping Mr Dada hide the cash. Ms Brown and Mr McMasters were found guilty of acquiring criminal property while Mr Ali pleaded guilty to the same offence.

On 27 June 2011, Genesis’ internal audit team discovered that a fraudulent payment of £138,788 had been made from their bank account at Barclays to an unknown Natwest bank account.

That money was meant to go to Genesis’ in-house contractor Pathmeads Property Services which carries out maintenance work for the charity.

Genesis went to court and obtained a freezing order which prevented a further fraudulent payment of £290,090.

Natwest revealed the money had been sent to a company called Factwise Limited, of which Mr Ali was a director. Smaller amounts of money were also transferred to Ms Brown and Mr McMasters – £9,491 and £9,981 respectively.

Following an internal investigation it was found that the details of a former senior surveyor – Richard Keys – were used to gain access. Mr Keys had handed over his Genesis items before leaving the company in June 2011 and was not involved in the scam in any way.