main content Benefits fraudsters prosecuted

Two benefit fraudsters were recently sentenced at Bromley Magistrates Court bringing the total prosecuted to 144 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

A council spokesperson said “These prosecutions provide further evidence that fraudsters will be vigorously pursued as part of our zero tolerance on fraud as well as protection of public funds.”

Cemaliye Osman, 30, of Cotmandene Crescent, St Paul’s Cray, pleaded guilty to defrauding Bromley Council of housing and council tax benefits totalling £7,365 over four separate periods between July 2005 and Sept 2007. She had failed to notify a change in circumstances in that she had been out of the country for more than 13 weeks at any one time visiting her children in Cyprus whilst also claiming as a lone parent in the UK. She was sentenced on the 25th March 2008 to serve a 12 month Community Order of 60 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 per month of the overpayment and £55 costs.

Jason Smith, 36 of Venner Road, Sydenham, pleaded guilty to defrauding Bromley Council of housing and council tax benefits totalling £2,246 over a period December 2006 to June 2007. He had failed to notify the Authority that his Job Seekers Allowance had ended. Smith failed to attend Bromley Magistrates Court on the 19th March 2008 and a warrant without bail was issued. He was arrested and sentenced on the 2nd April 2008 to a 12 month Community Order requiring 40 hours unpaid work plus £350 prosecution costs and ordered to pay back £100 per month of the overpayment.


ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Anyone with 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. 
• For media enquiries, please contact Luis Remedios, Audit Manager, on 020 8313 4886 or email luis.remedios@bromley.gov.uk