Man jailed for £50,000 benefit fraud

A man has been sent to prison for defrauding Barnet Council out of more than £50,000 in housing and council tax benefits.

Joseph Saifi, of Edgeworth Close, Hendon, admitted making illegal claims between May 2002 and October 2007 at Hendon Magistrates Court in January. He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court this week.

The sentencing followed a long investigation by the council's Corporate Anti-Fraud Team, which uncovered that Saifi actually had two children with the person he claimed was his landlady.

Further investigation revealed that Saifi was secretary to the company he declared he was an employee of and his landlady was in fact the director of this business.

Investigators discovered previously undeclared bank accounts which revealed that large payments had been made from the 'landlady's' business account to Saifi.

Saifi was a signatory to the business accounts and in fact had a joint working partnership with his landlady, further confirming their relationship.

Saifi was interviewed under caution three times by the Corporate Anti Fraud Team investigators, each time providing misleading, limited, partial and inaccurate explanations which delayed the investigation.

He was charged with five counts of dishonestly making a false statement, one count of dishonestly obtaining money transfers by deception and one count of dishonestly obtaining exemption for liability to pay Council Tax.

He admitted all the charges against him and will now serve 15 months in prison. The total amount of overpayment was £51,925.16

Councillor Daniel Webb, Cabinet Member for Policy and Performance, said: "The fraud carried out by Joseph Saifi was extremely serious and took place over a number of years.

"The amount of money overpaid is among the biggest cases of benefit fraud this council has ever dealt with and I would like to applaud the Corporate Anti Fraud Team (CAFT) officers for their commitment and attention to detail that resulted in this man being brought to court to face justice for his crimes.

"I hope this also acts as a real warning to any other people out there claiming benefits illegally."

If you would like to report anyone of suspected benefit fraud then call the Council's Corporate Anti Fraud Team in confidence on 020 8359 2007.