Man who sold stolen PPE during Covid pandemic alongside wife removed from register

A man who was jailed after selling stolen hospital PPE during the Covid pandemic has been blocked from renting out properties in Glasgow.

Omer Sheikh and his wife, Dr Attiya Sheikh, made almost £8,000 from selling the personal protective equipment online in 2020. The pair were each sentenced to ten months in prison in July.

As a result of his conviction, Glasgow’s licensing committee was asked to review whether Mr Sheikh remained a fit and proper person to be included on the Scottish landlord register.

Councillors decided to remove the landlord from the register at a meeting on Wednesday. He can appeal the ruling. Bailie Hanif Raja, Labour, recorded his dissent with the committee’s decision.

Dr Sheikh also faces a licensing hearing over her suitability to remain on the register. Her case was continued to a future date as she could not attend.

Mr Sheikh told councillors he had made a “genuine mistake” and that renting property was “the only source of income I have left”. He said if he were removed from the register, he would probably need to claim benefits.

The landlord, who said he was in jail for ten weeks, added he had been operating for 15 years and had never been called before the committee before.

Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the licensing committee, said: “I understand what you’re saying about the financial impact on you.

“However, we have to look at this in terms of protecting public safety, and also making sure you are a fit and proper person to be a holder of a licence.

“Whatever way you want to look at this, you were found guilty.”

He added: “You had within your possession the PPE items and you were selling them for a profit, do you think that is something a fit and proper person does?”

Mr Sheikh responded: “Someone sold them to my Mrs and we sold them on. We bought them from someone, unfortunately, we couldn’t prove that.”

The landlord and his wife, who was working at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, admitted selling stolen gloves, face masks and wipes. They were exposed after an NHS Scotland supplier spotted its products for sale on eBay.

The court heard how the duo used four accounts on the internet marketplace site to sell the items between May and October 2020.

NHS Counter Fraud Service specialists had carried out a search of the couple’s home in the southside of Glasgow and discovered 121 boxes of PPE belonging to the NHS hidden in a converted attic.