By Tom MackSenior Reporter
A former solicitor and charity chairwoman, Kalv Garcha, has failed in her bid to overturn her conviction after she was jailed for fraudulently siphoning off funds from both a local council and a cancer support charity.
In October 2021, Garcha, who was employed as a senior solicitor for Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after being found guilty of participating in a fraudulent “phantom job” scheme. This scam saw over £37,000 in council salary payments diverted to a non-existent employee. Additionally, Garcha exploited her position as chair of Coping with Cancer (now Sue Young Cancer Support) to steal £3,600 intended to support cancer patients.
The judge at the time, Ebrahim Mooncey, described Garcha as “arrogant and manipulative,” highlighting the scale of her deceit. Alongside Garcha, two other individuals were implicated in the scam. Lynn Middleton, a fellow board member of Coping with Cancer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Sharon Reeve, also a board member but without financial gain from the scam, received a 10-month suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Despite her conviction, Garcha appealed her sentence, arguing that the jury’s decision was flawed. However, at the Court of Appeal hearing on May 22, 2023, her lawyers were unsuccessful in their attempt to have the case overturned. The judge ruled that there were no grounds to appeal, and the original conviction stands.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed the ruling, stating, “I can confirm that the Court dismissed the appellant’s appeal against conviction and the approved judgment will be available in due course.”
Garcha, a former resident of Carisbrooke Road in South Knighton, Leicester, had used her trusted position within both the council and the charity to divert thousands of pounds. The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by those in positions of trust and the devastating impact of fraud on vulnerable communities.