Benefits cheat had £150k in the bank

A Radcliffe man has been convicted of a benefits offence after not telling his partner he had capital of £150,000.

Sabir Hussain (aged 72) of Glenvale Close had signed a benefits claim made by his partner, who ultimately received housing and council tax benefit of £30,815.

However, investigators found that he had capital of £150,000 from August 2008 onwards, which meant that the couple would not have qualified for these benefits. Hussain had not told his partner that he possessed that capital sum.

He pleaded guilty at Bury Magistrates Court on 13 October 2014 to a charge of dishonestly allowing a claim for housing and council tax benefit to be submitted. He has paid back the overpayment in full.

He appeared before Bolton Crown Court on 24 November 2014, where he was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also made subject to a six-month curfew, from 9pm to 6.30am, with electronic tagging to cover two addresses. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for resource and regulation, said: “Benefit fraud is unfair to local taxpayers and genuine claimants. We will continue to take action against those who abuse the system.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 27 November 2014.