Compensation payments totalling almost £20,000 are to be made to six victims of a convicted fraudster from money confiscated from him upon arrest.

Jeevan Bathula received an 18-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court in September after admitting a money laundering charge arising from the proceeds of a postal courier fraud, of which was an active participant.

The Indian national, who was in the UK on a work visa until 2028, is now facing deportation back to his homeland following his conviction.

Detectives from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) helped to put Bathula behind bars following an investigation into the scam which targeted victims across the UK and Ireland.

An overseas ‘call centre’ used in the criminal network would telephone victims claiming to be fro

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