TWO sisters who were jailed for their part in an international credit card fraud and kidnapping conspiracy are now caring for elderly and vulnerable people in Bolton.

Anisa Mallu and her sister, Nasima Essa, were each jailed for two years and six months in 2008 after they admitted being part of a gang which masterminded a card-cloning fraud at two Bolton petrol stations.

The fraud was uncovered when the gang which the two sisters belonged to, kidnapped and tortured a rival gang member in a row over cash.

The Bolton News can reveal that the two women, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, are now employed as home care workers for Carewatch, which is commissioned by Bolton Council to provide care to vulnerable and elderly people in the town.

The sisters provide non-medical care including cleaning, cooking, bathing and dressing.

Carewatch told The Bolton News that the women had served their time and they had been taken on under a scheme called New Chance, which helps to find jobs for rehabilitating offenders.

New Chance is a Government-funded scheme run by Bolton Council through The Workshop, in Newport Street.

It is the first time Carewatch has employed people through the initiative, a spokesman said.

But an insider at the company, based in Park Road, Bolton, said members of staff were concerned that the convicted fraudsters were being allowed access to vulnerable people’s homes in light of the type of crimes they had been involved in.

The source said: “I think it’s disgusting. They should not be working with elderly people with their records.”

When The Bolton News approached Anisa Mallu outside the Carewatch headquarters and told her about the concerns which had been raised about her conviction for fraud, she replied: “What does it matter? That’s all in the past.”

A spokesman for Carewatch said the sisters had been working for the company for about eight months.

“When they were taken on, CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks were carried out. Carewatch was aware of their past, as it is supporting the New Chance project. It was no surprise at all.”

He said the fact that the women had convictions for fraud did not bar them from working with vulnerable people and that further POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) checks had been carried out which also cleared the women to work as carers.

“They are both very closely monitored in the duties that they carry out for Carewatch. Their work has so far been fine and of no cause for complaint or concern of any sort at all.”

The spokesman said that people were not “proactively” informed about the women’s backgrounds, but added that they had very positive feedback about the women’s work.

A council spokesman said Carewatch looked after about 180 people of the 1,200 residents who receive domiciliary care in Bolton.

He added: “Carewatch is one of a number of companies that is commissioned by Bolton Council to deliver domiciliary care to adults in their own homes.

“It is the responsibility of the company concerned to carry out CRB checks on its staff and the council delivers spot checks on all companies it commissions.

“We operate within national guidelines and are required to only commission organisations that are registered with the Care Quality Commission.

“Clearly, questions have been raised about these particular circumstances and we will be speaking to Carewatch about their decisions. The safety of the borough’s most vulnerable adults is a priority for Bolton Council and we will be seeking assurances that the correct procedures were followed.

“New Chance is a scheme delivered by the Be Safe partnership and benefits from government funding. There are many myths surrounding the employment of ex-offenders and New Chance helps to address those myths by working with individuals who wish to move away from criminal activity, and with employers keen to help them.

“The project aims to help individuals break their cycle of offending so they can reintegrate back into society and start to contribute to the community in a positive way.”

A Care Quality Commission spokesman said: “We are satisfied they have complied with the law and regulations.”

A Greater Manchester Probation Trust spokes-man confirmed that Mallu had completed her terms of probation and licence.

It had no record of Nasima Essa, who is believed to have changed her surname to Isak.

pkeaveny@ theboltonnews.co.uk