Couple erased after theft

Gerrards Cross optometrists Mr Khairul Rahman and Ms Sania Shah have been erased from General Optical Council registers after a fitness to practise committee heard they had falsely claimed earnings and company expenses valuing over £30,000.

Rahman, a Specsavers joint venture partner, was alleged to have paid Shah, with whom he was in a relationship, a total of £32,400 between October 2015 to September 2016 in the knowledge that she had not worked the hours required to justify the pay. In addition, he was found to have made personal purchases on a company credit card and falsified receipts.

At the hearing, Shah’s legal representatives attempted to argue that she was shocked to learn of the false payments during an investigation conducted by the multiple’s financial risk support team. The fitness to practise hearing determined that she should have been aware that the sums of money were in excess of her usual payment and later heard that she repaid sums of money to Rahman through cash payments and gifts.