A housing fraudster was given a custodial sentence of 16 months after defrauding the council of more than £64,000.
Mr Abdul Aziz pleaded guilty to Fraud contrary to Section 3 of the Fraud Act 2006 at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 10 February 2017.
Mr Aziz claimed to be living in overcrowded conditions in 2011, despite joint owning a property in Ilford where he lived, and was awarded a one bedroom housing association property with Newlon Housing Trust.
His actions prevented a legitimately homeless person from being housed while the property was illegally sublet. The court is now deciding how much of the £64,000 he must pay back.
John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said:
“I am pleased we are now able to offer this much needed property to a genuinely homeless person.
“We will always take steps to defend the public purse and pursue channels to make those who want to defraud it pay.”
Tower Hamlets Council currently has 18,995 households on its housing waiting list (the Common Housing Register).
Notes :
1. The prosecution follows two further cases of fraud that were successfully brought to court recently.
2. An employee in the housing department of another London council was, on 10 February 2017 at Snaresbrook Crown Court, sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.
3. A former Tower Hamlets Councillor was, on 27 October 2016 at Snaresbrook Crown Court, sentenced to 22 weeks imprisonment after claiming he was homeless, but actually owned several properties.
4. In both these cases the Courts have agreed a timetable for confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
For more information, please contact susan.mulligan@towerhamlets.gov.uk
– Press release from Tower hamlets Council, Date: 20 February 2017