A SALISBURY man was part of a gang who defrauded the Post Office out of more than £700,000 after the organisation failed to spot that one of its branches had closed.

Nori Safi, of Wilton Road, and 10 other men were recruited by former postmaster Manish Parmar to launder money from Totton Post Office by putting in fraudulent pay-in slips.

The slips were sent to the organisation’s headquarters before the money was put into the gang’s personal banking accounts.

Once the money entered the account, each man would then withdraw it and hand it over to Parmar, who was described by one defendant as “someone who gets off on doing illegal activity... he likes to be the bad boy”, for a fee.

He denied fraud and converting criminal property but was found guilty during a trial.

Parmar, 34, owns the Best One, on Rumbridge Street, where the Post Office was situated and became its postmaster in 2011.

He left the role in 2014, shortly before it closed.

However, the Post Office was unaware of the closure.

Using his knowledge of postal systems, Parmar, of Wilton Road, Southampton, then set out on his scheme to defraud the Post Office out of £701,000 between April 2015 and January 2016.

The businessman, who also owns takeaway The Romna Tandoori Indian, initially sent four fraudulent slips to the Post Office for £14,000, which were subsequently paid into his account.

Prosecutor Andrew Houston told Southampton Crown Court: “Parmar was canny enough to realise that continuing to put these sorts of sums into his account would attract suspicion from the banks.

“Knowing that the fraud worked and led to sums going into bank accounts, he realised he would need other bank accounts.

“What followed over the next year was a succession of paying-in slips making their way to Northampton [the Post Office’s head quarters] with Totton Post Office stamps on them and accounts of other residents of Totton and its vicinity being credited.”

Among those befriended by Parmar were Philip Maidment, who received £171,980 through his accounts, as well as Asir Karakulah, who received £140,260, and Callum McDevitt £107,295.

In a Newton hearing, Karakulah claimed he “was unaware” of the money going into his account.

Others who also helped with the operation included Gareth Hill, who used his stepson’s accounts to get the money before sending it on to Parmar.

Fellow co-defendant Robert Rayment, who denied any involvement in the crime but was found guilty by a jury, worked as a delivery driver for Parmar.

Others who were roped into the operation included Jordan Southwell, who shopped at Best One, and Fraser McGuigan who went in to the store and asked for a job.

The final four who saw money enter their accounts before transferring the money to Parmar were Connor Veal, Nori Safi, Daniel Palmer-Nicholls and Mitchell Whitfield.

The court heard that the crime was “opportunistic money-making”.

The operation was finally foiled when the Post Office became aware of the branch’s closure and cross-checked its internal systems.

Kanna Sivva, mitigating for Parmar, told the court that “an opportunity presented itself and others took it” and a loop hole in the system was “exploited”.

He added those who knew Parmar described him as “honest and trustworthy” and this offending was completely “out of character”.

For many of the other defendants, they were drawn into the scheme due to ongoing financial problems.

At the time of publication the Post Office had not responded to the request for a comment.

Police Staff Investigator Jess Swift said: “My thanks go to everyone who was been involved in this long and complex investigation.

“We are delighted to have brought those responsible to justice and this should serve as a warning to anyone who might think that fraud pays - it doesn’t.”

Manish Parmar, 34, of Wilton Road, Southampton. Found guilty of fraud and converting criminal property. Sentence: Six years, six months imprisonment.

Asir Karakulah, 35, of Station Road North, Totton. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 30 months imprisonment.

Philip Maidment, 37, of Testbourne Road, Totton. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 16 months imprisonment.

Gareth Hills, 39, of Holmesland Walk, Botley. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 16 months imprisonment.

Callum McDevitt, 21, of Alfred Close, Totton. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 10 months suspended for two years.

Mitchell Whitfield, 24, of Oldbarn Close, Calmore. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 12 months, suspended for two years.

Connor Veal, 22, of Richmond Close, Calmore. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 10 months, suspended for two years

Jordan Southwell, 22, of California Close, Totton. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: Nine months, suspended for two years.

Nori Safi, 23, of Wilton Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: Six months, suspended for two years.

Fraser McGuigan, 24, of Roundcopse, Dibden. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 12 month community order.

Daniel Palmer-Nicholls, 21, of Beech Road, Southampton. Pleaded guilty to money laundering. Sentence: 12 month community order.

Robert Rayment, 47, of Fourshells Close, Fawley. Found guilty of money laundering. Sentence adjourned until May 3.