A loan shark who “preyed” on colleagues while working as a doctor at a hospital in Harrow has been ordered to pay back half a million pounds.
Dr Arjan Damjibhai Savani, from Kenton, was fined £525,000 during a hearing at Harrow Crown Court, in Hailsham Drive, today (Friday, March 17).
He must pay the money within three months or face a five year prison sentence.
The 49-year-old targeted Filipino colleagues while he worked as a consultant at Central Middlesex and Northwick Park hospitals, in Harrow, between 2011 and 2015.
He admitted to issuing loans ranging from £500 to £50,000 and knew he was acting illegally but believed it would take too long to obtain a licence.
Dr Savani also knew his victims could not afford to pay the money back and was aware that the Filipino community places a great deal of importance on honour.
Being unable to repay the debt would be “shameful” to the victim as a result.
He was arrested in December 2015 after being investigated by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT).
Officers also seized loan records which showed the doctor had received payments totalling £525,000.
In October 2016, he was given a 10 month prison sentence, which was suspended for 2 years.
