A BENEFIT cheat has been spared jail after paying back most of the £28,000 he illegally claimed.
Abdul Latif, aged 54, of Bamford Way, Bamford, admitted claiming incapacity benefit and income support despite having £40,000 savings.
At Bolton Crown Court on Thursday, he was given a ninth-month suspended prison sentence and a three-month curfew order preventing him from leaving his house between 9am and 7am.
Sentencing, Judge Charles Mahon said: "You knowingly failed to tell the authorities that you had money set aside well in excess of the permitted amount. I have read your references and people speak well of you and you are well respected in your community."
The court heard how Mr Latif arrived in the UK aged 17 and soon after set up a clothing firm with his brother. But the company fell into problems when Mr Latif became ill and he had to give it up.
In 1997 he began claiming income support and incapacity benefit to care for himself, his wife and their three children. According to the rules, you are not entitled to the benefit if you have more than £16,000 in savings.
David Toal, prosecuting, said: "In terms of incapacity benefit, the relevant claim period is between 4 March 2003 and 8 September 2008. The total amount claimed improperly was £23,398.81. In terms of income support, the relevant claim period is between 1 April 2005 and 4 September 2008. The total amount claimed improperly in terms of income support was £4,800.72."
The court heard that, when interviewed in 2008, Mr Latif, who has no previous convictions, said he understood the rules and said he 'maybe forgot to declare it.'
Mr Latif has repaid all of the income support cash and £14,000 of the incapacity benefit cash. He has agreed to return the rest of the money in the next few months.
Georgina Coade, defending, said: "He has sought to correct the mistake. He is an active member of his community and his local MP (Paul Rowen) has said he has been very helpful with canvassing during election campaigns."
Mr Latif pleaded guilty to two charges of failure to notify a change in circumstances on a benefit claims form.
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Showing comments 1 to 16 and replies | View All
Kevin Kiernan (24/11/2009 at 14:04)
The Chef, Spotland (24/11/2009 at 15:09)
He may as well have taken money off pensioners as they left the post office! it's just as bad!!
Not a bad little earner sponging £28,000 of the state while his nestegg grew ever larger with the interest acrued!
And no doubt playing an active part in his community,canvassing and the like made him think he would be above suspicion!.
Good on those that found him out and it is such a shame that he will have to use up his remaining £18,000 savings till he can get some money honestly.
CASHSNATCHUK, UK (24/11/2009 at 18:34)
This leech deserved a spell banged up in a cell thats for sure,sadly there are far more cases like this ,many still undetected,in Rochdale.
Copy Cat, Castleton (24/11/2009 at 20:32)
Charles De Mar, Lower Fold, Rochdale (25/11/2009 at 08:45)
Stig of the Dump (25/11/2009 at 10:59)
An extraordinary defence to a serious criminal offence.
What message is that sending out to crooks?
"Get caught but if you have mates in politics you won't go to prison"?
Discraceful.
Ray Stay (25/11/2009 at 11:10)
Henry Kelly, Ireland (25/11/2009 at 15:04)
Casablanca, ex-Bury Road Convent, Rochdale (26/11/2009 at 12:04)
This is the second case in a week where the judge was impressed by the defence argument about the defendent's social status and his apparent good character.
So using a position of trust to commit an offence is more acceptable than being obviously dishonest?
DIANE WHITTAKER, western australia (26/11/2009 at 13:57)
E K (26/11/2009 at 20:41)
Disgraceful times we live in.
Bombay Blues (29/11/2009 at 23:50)
D.Ashworth, Rochdale (30/11/2009 at 18:09)
1. An apparently respectable and wealthy community figure (race irrelevant frankly) with references and testimonials has been caught in the process of a £28K fraud perpetrated over several years.
2. An apparently un-respected and clearly rather sad, foolish and perhaps sick individual has harmed himself and incurred a fine.
If you want to draw a racial conclusion to these two stories then that is likely out of a desire to find one. In reality it is a class story - wealth versus poverty. If someone does something wrong once it is different to doing something wrong each year for several years.
Please do not pick up a race card when it is not appropriate.
From the article it is clear that it didn't take the Police long to confirm one case, but it would have taken the HMRC a lot of time and effort to prosecute the wealthy fraud. We pay for all of this. I'd rather my taxes were spent on positive things.
Bombay Blues (02/12/2009 at 11:37)
The Chef, Spotland (03/12/2009 at 09:31)
There are a lot of white benefit cheats as well but it seems fine for them to rob the system! There will always be those with limited intelligence that believe that all asian/foreigners are cheats,muggers,thieves,terrorists and should be shipped back to their country of origin! The majority of the asian community in this country were born here! it is not the case, where due to unrest or political changes thousands arrive on our shores with hands held out for state benefits as portrayed in the doctrine of the National Front (now the B.N.P)
When these blinkered,racist individuals have worked that out there may be a chance we can all live together, even if we are Christian or Muslim.
Luise, Sydney (07/12/2009 at 12:12)
Also what is amazing is that most of the money was repaid so quickly,I realy think that not enough background check is done when these people apply for benefit.how many more like him are out there,trouble is that benefits are too easy to get,thats why it makes Britain and Australia such a great choice for people like him.