Two men and a woman have recently been sentenced for failing to declare their full income whilst they were in receipt of benefits.
\nMohammed Islam, 33, from Montclare Street, E2, failed to declare his partner\u2019s income for almost six years. He illegally obtained \u00a317,409.74 of Housing Benefit, \u00a35,043.41 of Council Tax Benefit and \u00a333,920.of Income Support between 2006 and 2012.
\nMr Islam was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and \u00a3100 fine at Snaresbrook Crown Court on January, 14 2014.
\nBarrie Brett, 53, from Sewardstone Road, E2, failed to declare that he had been selling electrical equipment on E-bay for more than four years. He illegally obtained \u00a319,406.82 of Housing Benefit, \u00a32,771.35 of Council Tax Benefit and \u00a318,489.42 of Income Support.
\nMr Brett was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment at Thames Magistrates Court on January 16, 2014.
\nMiss Mona Ahmed, 26, from Harford Street, Stepney, London, E1 failed to declare that she had commenced full time higher education and was in receipt of income in the form of student loans and grants.
\nOn January 21, 2014, Miss Ahmed received a Community Order for a period of 18 months at Thames Magistrates\u2019 Court, including 240 hours of unpaid work and a 30 day curfew, where she is electronically tagged from 6pm to 6am. Miss Ahmed must also pay a Victim surcharge of \u00a360, which is used to fund victim services through the Victim and Witness General Fund.
\nTower Hamlets Council\u2019s Investigations Team works closely with other departments in the council, other councils, the Department for Work and Pensions, the police and members of the public to identify cases of fraud.
\nCouncillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: \u201cThe welfare state offers vital protection to the most vulnerable in our society and should not be abused. We will continue to do everything in our power to stamp out benefit fraud.\u201d
\nAnyone wanting to report a suspected benefit fraud can contact the Benefit Fraud Investigations Team on 020 7364 7427.<\/p>\n