Former South African insurance broker facing extradition from the UK

A former South African insurance broker is facing extradition from the UK after allegations of fraud come to light, Thisiscornwall reports.

Mike Hale left South Africa in July 2009 after being accused of a £1.5m fraud when at least 20 million rand went missing went missing from the accounts of his company, MJCM Insurance Brokers.

Since then Hale has been working as a supply teacher in Falmouth and Penryn in Cornwall.

The connections to the South African fraud were noticed when a former pupil, Daniel Templeton, spotted Hale in online news stories.

Templeton said: “I thought, ‘Oh my god, that’s really him’.

“I just find it ridiculous that somebody can become a teacher after that. Surely he must have gone through the system?”

A concerned parent of a student at a Cornish school then contacted The Witness newspaper in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa informing them of Hale’s whereabouts.

Penryn College and Falmouth Academy informed police about the allegations last week.

A statement from Cornwall College said: “He registered in September 2009, having completed all necessary statutory checks as a qualified teacher, including professional references.

“In line with the current Disclosure and Barring Service guidance and our normal operating policy, all checks were updated November 2012 – all were clear.

“We have no information relating to alleged activities in South Africa. Mr Hale is no longer working with us.”

A statement from Penryn College said: “As soon as Penryn College and Falmouth School were alerted of the allegations, both immediately informed the police and the supply agency of the allegations made about him.”