main content Benefit fraudster jailed

A benefit fraudster was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court, on  14th June 2006 bringing the total prosecuted to 67 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

Council Leader Stephen Carr said “The severity of this sentence and our determination to vigorously pursue fraudsters as part of the Council’s zero tolerance on fraud will, we hope act as a deterrent.”

Mark Okodugha ,37, of Queen Adelaide Court, Penge, was found guilty on 21 charges of defrauding Bromley Council of benefits totalling nearly £14,000 over a four year period. He had failed to declare substantial amounts of earnings, income and that he owned two properties. In sentencing him to a nine month prison sentence the judge described it “a purposeful cause of dishonesty not based on need but solely on greed.” A Compensation Order of £12,489 to cover the housing benefit overpayment, payable within 12 months was also made together with £750 costs payable to Bromley Council.

The Council is in the process of recovering the overpayment of council tax benefit in this case.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• For media enquiries, please contact Luis Remedios on 020 8313 4886 or email luis.remedios@bromley.gov.uk
• Anyone with any information about a suspected benefit fraud should contact (in strict confidence) the Fraud Hotline on 0800 169 6975 
• Bromley Council works in partnership with Greenwich Council’s Corporate Anti-Fraud Team. 
• This prosecution brings to 67 the number of prosecutions for the period to mid June 2006. We have also been able to claim back over £345,000 in reward money for prosecutions, cautions, summonses and administrative penalties over 49 months. Reward monies cease with effect from 1st April 2006 and replaced by an administrative subsidy.