After fraudulent claims of over £30,000

Two women from Acton have been punished for making false benefit claims following investigations by Ealing Council.

Mrs Souad Neya, 49, of Bollo Lane, was found guilty of five offences at Ealing Magistrates Court on 17 June after fraudulently receiving £21,000 in housing benefit.

Mrs Neya failed to declare employment, tax credits, and bank accounts over a five-year period.  Following her trial, she was sentenced on 26 August to 14 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a four-month curfew order from 7pm- 7am.

In a separate case, Mrs Karpal Saria, 49, of Steyne Housing Estate on Lexden Road, pleaded guilty to three offences at Ealing Magistrates Court on 2 September. Mrs Saria falsely received £7,956.85 after failing to declare that her son and daughter-in-law had been living with her since January 2007.

She was ordered to pay £150 for each offence (total £450) and £100 towards the council’s prosecution costs.

Councillor Yvonne Johnson, cabinet member for Finance and Performance, said: “These two women appear to have had no qualms in trying to steal from the public purse and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill. The council takes benefit fraud seriously and these cases should serve as a lesson to others that we will investigate those suspected of cheating the system.”

September 13, 2010