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Community police officer on trial for £30,000 scam
THE accused faked marriage breakdown to get council housing
ONE of Westminster’s Police Community Support Officers helped his mother carry out an elaborate £30,000 housing scam, a court was told.
Taslima Mahmoud, 48, conned Camden Council into giving her and her two sons a council flat with conservatory in Scala Street, Fitzrovia, after faking the breakdown of her marriage.
She was living in a £250,000 family home in Edgware with her husband while her eldest son Tanvir, 26, raked in £1,000 a month by sleeping in the council flat living room and subletting the bedrooms to up to three people at a time.
It is believed, on some occasions, people were sleeping in the conservatory.
Appearing before Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, both pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Camden Council of up to £32,000 of housing and council tax benefits between March and September last year.
The scam was uncovered following an anonymous tip-off to the council, sparking an investigation which revealed Mrs Mahmoud had pretended she had separated from her husband so she and her two sons could claim the council flat in Central London.
Mr Mahmoud, who worked for Westminster Police transport department, acted as an agent and rent collector for his mother.
He was suspended from his job by the metropolitan police last September.
Following the investigation, Holborn Police Financial Investigations Team were brought in, arresting the defendants in February.
Mrs Mahmoud, who wept throughout proceedings, and her son have now been bailed to the family home address of Camrose Avenue, Edgware, pending reports and sentencing.
Prosecuting, Pam Oon told the court: “They are both of good character – well, they were.”
Releasing Mr and Mrs Mahmoud on bail, Judge Peter Ader said he would adjourn sentencing until next month but would not rule out the possibility of custody.
A council spokesman said: “If anybody suspects someone is illegally letting out their council home, they should contact our confidential Unlawful Occupancy Hot-line on, 020 7974 5848.” |
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