David Conn and Vikram Dodd
A significant development has emerged in the ongoing investigation into PPE Medpro, a company awarded substantial government contracts for personal protective equipment during the Covid pandemic. A 46-year-old man was arrested at his north London home on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The man was apprehended as part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) concerning the procurement of PPE contracts worth £203 million. These contracts were secured in the early months of the pandemic after standard competitive tendering regulations were suspended.
Involved in the company are Conservative peer Michelle Mone and her husband, Douglas Barrowman, who have previously been interviewed by NCA investigators. Neither has been charged, and both deny any wrongdoing in relation to PPE Medpro.
According to the NCA, the arrested individual is currently being interviewed as the agency continues its probe into the alleged fraudulent activities surrounding the procurement process.
PPE Medpro was awarded contracts for millions of face masks and sterile surgical gowns after Mone approached Cabinet Office ministers responsible for procurement. The contracts were expedited through a “VIP” high-priority lane designed for companies with political connections, bypassing standard procurement rules.
Leaked documents revealed that Barrowman received at least £65 million from PPE Medpro’s profits, transferring significant funds into an offshore trust for Mone and her children. In December, Mone announced she would take a leave of absence from the House of Lords to clear her name amidst the allegations.
The NCA’s investigation began in May 2021, leading to search warrants executed at the homes and offices of those involved, including Mone and Barrowman. The Lords commissioner for standards is also conducting an investigation into Mone’s alleged role in securing the contracts, which is currently on hold pending the NCA’s findings.