A hospital worker from Kent who ran an illegal money lending operation giving loans to colleagues has been handed a court confiscation order for more than £6,000.
Malai Gambrill, aged 56, was given a suspended prison sentence at Maidstone Crown Court in May last year after admitting lending to colleagues at Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent, where she worked as a caretaker.
Gambrill, from Ingle Road, Chatham, lent around £80,000 in total to her colleagues, charging interest rates of around 60 per cent, even though she was not authorised to do so by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The case was prosecuted by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) in partnership with Kent County Council trading standards and Kent Police.
She was sentenced to 30 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months and ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid work.
Gambrill’s case was back before Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, February 13. After her assets were taken into consideration, the court made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act for a total of £6,094.
Tony Quigley, head of the IMLT, said: “Illegal lenders make life a misery for their borrowers and take advantage of some of the most vulnerable people in society. It is only right that they should make amends by being made to pay back at least some of their ill-gotten gains.
“Money confiscated in this way will be put to good use in the fight against illegal lenders in England.”
Many illegal money lenders are well known within their communities and are often introduced to borrowers through friends, family members or colleagues. They are unregulated and give loans with no paperwork, charging extortionate interest rates.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the IMLT. Since 2004, the team has supported over 31,500 people and written off over £91.2 million worth of illegal debt, securing over 416 successful prosecutions for illegal money lending, leading to 598 years in jail.
Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
