Three benefit cheats punished in latest crackdown
Three residents who together fraudulently claimed more than
£15,000 of taxpayers’ money have been prosecuted as part of Harlow
Council’s latest crackdown on benefit fraud.
Two of the cases were heard at Harlow
Magistrates Court last Friday (30 July 2010).
Mr. Jalil Mughal (48) of Long Ley pleaded
guilty of failing to declare a rise in his Tax Credits going back
to 2008. He was overpaid Benefits between January 2008 and January
2010. He will have to pay back Housing Benefit of £4,457.55 and
Council Tax Benefit of £1,077.11 and received a six month
Conditional Discharge.
Mrs. Esther Oguns (37) of Pittmans field was
found guilty of working and claiming Housing & Council Tax
Benefits between September 2008 and September 2009 when she was not
entitled to as she had no right to work in this country and no
recourse to public funds. She will have to repay Housing Benefit of
£6,729.35 and Council Tax benefit of £83.71. She received a fine of
£33 and had to pay £65 in costs.
The third case bought by Harlow Council and
the Department of Work & Pensions was heard at Chelmsford Crown
Court on 30 July 2010. Ms. Sara King (40) of Doulton Close appeared
in court for living together with her husband Richard Satchell who
was working and she did not declare it. She first appeared at
Harlow Magistrates on 18 August 2009 where she pleaded not guilty
and again on 22 September 2009, this was rescheduled to 15 June
2010 at Chelmsford, and then on 30 July this year where she pleaded
guilty.
Ms King failed to declare to the Department of
Work and Pensions that she and her husband were living together.
Ms. King was claiming Income Support and Council Tax Benefit
between 25 March 2002 and 11 January 2009. As well as having to
repay Council Tax Benefit of £3,248.60 she also received a two year
suspended sentence and 100 hours community punishment order. She
will also have to pay back the Income Support to which she was not
entitled.
Councillor Simon Carter, Executive Committee
Member and Chairman of the Resources Working Group, said: “Our
latest crackdown has resulted in three successful prosecutions and
these should serve as a warning to anyone else who is fraudulently
claiming benefits.
“Not only have the three residents been
prosecuted, they will also have to pay back every penny of the
benefits claimed.
“Harlow Council takes benefit fraud extremely
seriously. Making false benefit claims is effectively stealing. We
will always prosecute anyone who tries to take advantage of a
system that is designed to help those who are most in need.
“It’s extremely important that people contact
the Council when their circumstances change as this could affect
the benefits they are receiving.”
Benefit fraud can be reported to the Council,
anonymously on (01279) 446474 or (01279) 446655 or by email at:
fraud@harlow.gov.uk
If the circumstances of residents claiming
housing or council tax benefit change they must tell the Council
otherwise they could be committing benefit fraud.
Ends