Mark Whitehead 03 October 2018

Councils cheated out of £1m by housing benefit assessors

Lambeth, Kingston, and Barking and Dagenham councils were cheated out of £1m by a group of housing benefit assessors who used dummy claimants, a court has heard.

They allegedly paid the cash into bank accounts opened with false passports in a decade-long fraud, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Menelik Cowan, his then-girlfriend Natasha Francis, 38, his brother Hugh Small, 39, Cassandra Johnson, 37, Jessica Bartley, 35, Rahel Asfaha, 36, and Alexander Williams, 39, were working for the local authorities at the time.

They put through a vast number of false claims using fake identities, according to the prosecution, in a 'fraudulent business on a grand scale and against the public purse, in particular against local housing benefits offices'.

Cowan, from Enfield, denies three counts of fraud and laundering £150,759.92 of the £289,469 he is accused of taking while working at Lambeth Council.

He has admitted one count of possession of identification documents with improper intention.

Asfaha, of Poplar, denies four counts of fraud, two counts of possession of identification documents with improper intent and two counts of money laundering.

She is accused of fraudulently claiming £82,331 while working for Lambeth Council and £182,907 at Barking and Dagenham Council.

Jessica Bartley, of Stockwell, worked for Lambeth Council and is said to have claimed £71,600.

She denies two counts of fraud, laundering £51,155 into bank accounts and possession of fake identity documents.

Natasha Francis, of Walworth, South London, denies fraud while at Lambeth Council and possession of fake identity documents.

Cassandra Johnson, of Brixton, denies two counts of fraud by abuse of position, possession of fake identity documents, and money laundering.

She is accused of hiding £57,514 of illicit housing benefit, and claiming £179,078 from Lambeth Council.

Hugh Small, of Fulham, worked for Kingston Council and is charged with fraud by abuse of position, possession of fake identity documents and money laundering.

He has pleaded guilty to money laundering and another count of fraud.

Alexander Williams, Brixton, denies fraud by abuse of position, possession of fake identity documents and money laundering.

He is accused of illegally claiming £240,345 while working for Barking and Dagenham Council.

Donna Francis and Derek Williams, both of Brixton, deny concealing criminal property.

The trial continues.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Storytelling and Case Studies Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Starting Salary from £43,545 FTE based on Skill
Job Title Storytelling and Cas... Wandsworth Town Hall/hybrid
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Head of Housing Development

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
UP to £116,847
Job Title- Head of Housing Development Salary – UP to £116,847 Permanent – Fulltime (36hours) Location- Wandsworth Town Hall, London Are you experienced in Local Government Housing Association/Development? If yes, you are invited to consider th Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Chief of Staff

Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
up to £126,615
We’re transforming services with ambition and community at the heart of our work. Norfolk
Recuriter: Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Director of People

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. County hall
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council

Director of Strategy and Transformation

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. Preston, Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner