COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

An alleged fraudster accused of cheating elderly people by claiming to be a qualified doctor and occupational therapist was helped into court after asserting that she was blind

Kammi Bassi continued to give the appearance of being blind and deaf – even after it was revealed that she had been arrested at the wheel of a car.

Wearing dark glasses and using a white cane, Bassi, aged 57, of Woodside Avenue North, Coventry, had been assisted by security staff to get to the waiting area at Warwick Crown Court.

Once in court Bassi, most of whose alleged victims live in the Leamington area, appeared not to hear what was being said, and made no reply when asked to confirm her name.

Told by prosecutor Laura Culley that a trial date in March next year had been given, the judge indicated: “First we should attempt to have arraignment.”

Requested to stand, Bassi had to be prompted by the dock officer before doing so, and Judge Cooke told the court clerk: “She’ll pretend not to hear you.”

The first charge of fraud, alleging that between September and November 2016 Bassi had made false representations to a woman by claiming to be a qualified doctor and occupational therapist was then put to Bassi, who made no reply.

Judge Cooke commented: “As expected, the defendant is pretending she can’t hear.”

And he asked: “Am I right that she was arrested at the wheel of a car, and did not display any signs of being blind or deaf?”

That was confirmed by Miss Culley, who said: “We have seen her medical records, and she is neither blind nor deaf.”

The judge said he would formally enter not guilty pleas on Bassi’s behalf to that charge and the other nine charges she faces.

They include six further charges of fraud in which she is said to have variously claimed to be a qualified doctor, to have had a medical degree, and to be qualified occupational therapist, osteopath and physiotherapist.

Bassi also faces three further charges of supplying a prescription-only medical product, the anti-inflamatory drug Naproxen 500, when not qualified to do so.

Adjourning the case for trial, Judge Cooke told Bassi: “This is your opportunity to persuade me that I should re-admit you to bail.”

When she still failed to respond, he ordered: “OK, remanded in custody. Take her down.” And Bassi was led away by the dock officer, apparently bemused by what was happening.

A woman posed as a doctor and five other health professionals to persuade elderly people to pay for services



Kamlesh Bassi used different aliases as she pretended to be a medical doctor, a nurse, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, an osteopath and chiropractor, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

She also gave her own prescription drugs to three victims, it added.

Bassi was convicted at Warwick Crown Court earlier.

After a trial, she was found guilty of seven counts of fraud by false representation and three counts of supplying a prescription-only medicinal product.

The 58-year-old of Troyes Close, Coventry, has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court in May.

The people she targeted are believed to be from across the West Midlands.

The CPS said services for which Bassi made people pay included massages and home help work.

She had also given three victims anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen from her own prescription, which, the CPS said, could have had "dangerous consequences".

A spokesperson said: "By lying about her credentials [Bassi] abused [people's] trust, gained access into their homes and potentially put their lives at risk by supplying Naproxen without knowing their medical history.

"Bassi acted selfishly for her own financial gain.

"She was a danger to the public and especially the most vulnerable individuals in our society."

Coventry fake doctor jailed for duping elderly people

A "fantasist" who posed as a doctor to dupe elderly people out of money and prescribed them potentially dangerous medicine, has been jailed.

Kammi Bassi from Coventry, who feigned blindness in court, also pretended to be a nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and chiropractor.

Warwick Crown Court heard the 58-year-old had "an almost insatiable need for attention and love".

Bassi, who was convicted of fraud last month, was jailed for three years.

She was also convicted of supplying prescription-only medicine.

Her victims from across the West Midlands were made to pay for massages and home help work after she contacted them, the prosecution said.

She gave her own prescription drugs, the anti-inflammatory Naproxen 500 which had a potential side effect of gastro-intestinal bleeding, to three people.

One woman took seven tablets before consulting others who advised against them, the court heard.

Bassi, of Woodside Avenue North, claimed to be a doctor and an osteopath to a woman she met in a Lloyd's Chemists branch and said she had noticed she was limping and could help her.

At court on Thursday, Bassi refused to return to the dock after reports had been prepared on her ahead of sentencing, which occurred in her absence.

During her trial she had appeared in the dock in a wheelchair with a hearing aid, dark glasses and a white stick, but Judge Sarah Buckingham said she had no condition affecting her hearing or sight.

At her first appearance at court she feigned blindness but was seen getting out of her car after she had driven to court.

Sentencing Bassi in her absence Ms Buckingham said prescribing drugs "when you are not qualified can be extremely dangerous".

"Your conduct was motivated not so much by money, although you were determined to be paid, but out of a deep-seated desire to be respected for skills you simply didn't have.

"But you did demonstrate a reckless disregard for their safety."

She was also given a restraining order banning her from having any contact with her victims or their families, and a criminal behaviour order.