The owner of a New Tredegar care home should have been prosecuted following a huge investigation into alleged abuse of vulnerable people, a report has found.
A report presented to the Welsh Government into the collapse of Operation Jasmine, launched by Gwnet Police in 2005, said Dr Prana Das, “could have and should have been prosecuted”.
The trial of Dr Prana Das, who ran the Brithdir Care Home in New Tredegar, collapsed in 2013 after he suffered a brain injury following an attack by burglars.
Operation Jasmine, estimated to have cost £15m was launched after the death of an 84-year-old woman and investigated the deaths of 63 people in care homes across South East Wales, including two in Caerphilly County Borough.
The report by Dr Margaret Flynn, published today, July 14, called for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review the case of Dr Prana Das again.
It said there were many victims “some of whom were resident in homes owned by Puretruce Health Care Ltd”, run by Dr Prana Das and Dr Nishebita Das.
The report stated: “Had the trial proceeded, it might have led to a conviction for crimes of fraud and breaches of health and safety in a single nursing home, Brithdir.
“The trial, had it taken place, would not have been able to take into account the sum of harms endured by older people in the care homes investigated since it would have hinged on six specimen cases.
“It would not have resulted in justice for all the families involved but it might have accomplished something less damaging than the current impasse. The absence of a
judgement or legal resolution compounds the families’ grief and sense of grievance.”
Responding to the report, a Gwent police spokesperson said: “Operation Jasmine was established in 2005 and our aim throughout the investigation was to seek the truth and secure justice.
“The investigation was the most complex and challenging multi agency investigation ever undertaken by Gwent Police, and throughout the process we endeavoured to support the families involved.
“We welcome the publication of Dr Flynn’s study ‘In search of Accountability’ and will carefully consider the findings and recommendations. As always our thoughts continue to remain with the families of those involved.”
Dr Flynn’s report made a number of recommendations for the Welsh Government,Gwent Police and others to follow.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said; “I believe that the report is a thorough and detailed account of these events and I am grateful to Dr Flynn for her professional work over the past eighteen months. I am also grateful to those individuals and organisations that have contributed to Dr Flynn’s work during that time.
“The report, although recognising progress over the past decade, sets out a number of actions for consideration by a variety of organisations including the Welsh Government.
“I will be writing to each of these organisations to request a response that I will publish, alongside the report.”
Imelda Richardson from the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales said: “These events should never have happened.
“We told families when we met them how sorry we were. CSSIW recognised that we needed to strengthen our work, focus on people, drive improvement in the care sector and ensure timely enforcement. Everything we have done since has been built on the principle of putting people first.
“We do not tolerate failing care. Providers have an opportunity to put things right, but when they don’t, we take prompt action.
“I would like to assure people that the safety and wellbeing of the people who use care services is at the heart of everything we do, and that the quality of care is our utmost priority.
“I’d also like to assure people that we find many examples of good care in Wales, and it is a small proportion of providers who cause very serious problems.”