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Cheating guru pays price

Posted by Lucy Proctor on Oct 21, 08 12:19 PM in Local Authority

A self-styled spiritual guru from Southall, who stole £46,000 in benefits from the London Borough of Hounslow, has had £110,000 of assets confiscated at Isleworth Crown Court.

Parmjit Singh, aged 42, of Wentworth Road, Southall, was found guilty of committing housing benefit fraud against Hounslow in March 2008, and was sentenced to two years in prison. Since then, the council have been using powers in the Criminal Justice Act and Proceeds of Crime Act to identify and confiscate assets Singh gained through the his crimes.

Cllr Gerald McGregor, lead member for finance at the council, said: "People who commit fraud against public bodies are stealing money from people who genuinely need it - never more so than in these stormy economic times.

"Singh may have believed that once his sentence was served, he would be free to return to the lifestyle he enjoyed, reaping the benefits of his crimes. I am delighted to say that he won't.

"We are one of the few local councils in the country doing this sort of work, and I believe it sends out a powerful message.

"If you commit fraud, we will catch you, we will get the money back, and we will take away any assets gained through your criminal lifestyle."

This is the first time Hounslow has used these powers, which are usually used by the Police to confiscate assets paid for through the proceeds of crime.

The case was presented at Isleworth Crown Court on 17 October by Richard Hearnden, to Judge Colgan.

The council will receive £62,012.56 in compensation and Singh has until 16 September 2009 to pay the £110,000, or face a further two years in prison.

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