Prison Reform Trust statement on recent fraud case

In response to the recent fraud case, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“The Prison Reform Trust’s current senior management team was not involved in the appointment of Samantha O’Sullivan. Hiring someone with a previous fraud conviction for a senior role involving financial responsibility was a mistake,  and one that would not have happened under our leadership. Lessons have been learned, and we have introduced robust safeguards to ensure this cannot happen again.

“All charities are subject to an independent annual audit. The purpose of these audits is to provide assurance to the board that the charity is managing its finances appropriately. Sadly, in this case, the auditors failed to pick up any irregularities over the period the fraud was taking place.

“When the criminality came to light in the summer of 2024, largely as a result of the diligence of the current leadership team, we acted swiftly and decisively. A full forensic and criminal investigation was undertaken, securing key evidence of the fraud. We promptly reported the matter to the police via Action Fraud, and when they failed to pursue the matter, we funded a private prosecution at our expense. As a result, criminal proceedings were then instigated and justice has been obtained.

“Dishonesty and fraud always represent an egregious breach of trust – and sadly, this kind of misconduct can happen regardless of a person’s background or criminal history. As a charity focused on prison reform and rehabilitation, we continue to believe in giving people second chances, but we will always act in a way that protects our organisation, our donors and the people we serve.

“We would like to assure our supporters that no programmes or services were affected by this incident, and the charity remains committed to its mission to create a just, humane and effective prison system.”