A dentist who ran a practice in Worthing has been sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding the NHS of more than £92,500.
Fariba Shameli, 55, who owned and operated Findon Dental Care, was sentenced in her absence at Lewes Crown Court on 21 September 2026. A warrant remains out for her arrest, as she is believed to be residing in Sweden.
The court heard that Shameli systematically defrauded the health service of £92,511 between March 2013 and June 2018. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed it is now pursuing extradition proceedings and the confiscation of her assets.
Systematic fraud across 1,037 claims
The investigation, led by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), uncovered a total of 1,037 fraudulent claims affecting 848 patients.
The fraud was carried out through several different methods. Of the false claims identified:
- 532 were for work actually performed by trainees.
- 161 were for dental work that patients had already paid for privately.
- 158 were for treatments that were never carried out at all.
- 186 involved the submission of falsified dates.
Prosecutors stated that the motive behind the fraud was to avoid “clawback” procedures. Under NHS dental contracts, practitioners must meet 96% of their agreed Units of Dental Activity (UDA). If they fail to reach this target, the NHS recovers the surplus funds. By submitting false claims, Shameli artificially inflated her activity levels to keep the money.
Sentenced in absence
Despite being found guilty at an earlier trial, Shameli did not appear for her sentencing. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, she is currently a fugitive in Sweden.
The case concluded following a complex investigation into the records of Findon Dental Care. While the fraud involved significant sums of public money, the legal proceedings focused on the financial deception rather than the clinical quality of care received by the 848 patients involved.
A spokesperson for the NHSCFA previously described the actions as a “deliberate and calculated” theft from the NHS, intended for personal financial gain at the expense of the taxpayer.
Authorities are now working to return Shameli to the UK to serve her three-year custodial sentence.
