Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption news
This page contains news and updates from the council's Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team.
Friday 18 June 2010 - successful prosecution of NHS Business Consultant
Zahid Ali, a 47-year-old father-of-three from Coulsdon, Surrey was successfully prosecuted at Croydon Crown Court on Friday 18 June 2010, following a multi-agency investigation into fraudulent claims for benefit.
Despite making more than £300 per hour advising GPs how to save money and owning properties in Dubai, expensive cars and living in a £1 million house in Surrey, Zahid Ali fraudulently claimed a total of approximately £15,000 in Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance.
Officers from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council's Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team discovered Zahid Ali's deceit when he entered a claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for a property owned by his wife. His claim was supported by a tenancy agreement which he had forged, complete with a fictitious landlord. Due to the vigilance of the officers involved, no money was paid to Zahid Ali by the council.
However during the investigation it became apparent that Zahid Ali had successfully made similar claims with London Borough of Sutton Council and the Department for Work & Pensions. Zahid Ali claimed Housing Benefit for two properties owned by his wife in Lind Road, Sutton and Church Lane Hooley, and Jobseekers Allowance, where he failed to declare earnings of £212,000 between 2004 and 2008, which he made through his management consultancy company Coulsdon Limited.
Multi-organisation operation
A multi-organisation joint working operation ensued, headed by an Investigator from the Council's Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team, with officers from the investigation departments of London Borough of Sutton Council and the Jobcentre Plus. A detailed case file was put together and it was arranged for Zahid Ali to be arrested at his claim address. However on the day of the arrest he was found to be residing with his mother and father-in-law at their property Kingswood, Surrey.
An extensive search, involving officers from all agencies and the Police, took place at the seven bedroomed property, and a number of items were seized as evidence.
Nine month sentence
Both Zahid Ali and his wife were Interviewed under Caution at Staines Police Station by the Investigators from the Council's Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team and the Jobcentre's Fraud Investigation Service. As Zahid Ali gave a "no comment" interview, the evidence was compiled and a prosecution case was put together and taken forward by the DWP Prosecution Division.
The case was referred to Croydon Crown Court, where it was heard on Friday 18 June 2010. Zahid Ali, who works as a Practice Manager for a local GP Surgery, received a nine month prison sentence, and was ordered to pay £3000 in costs to the prosecution.
£14,900 overpayments
Defence barrister, Caira McElvogue said Zahid Ali had been suffering from depression after the break up of his marriage in 2003, when he initially and legitimately started claiming incapacity benefit. She said his crimes were “despicable” but blamed his behaviour on the breakdown of his marriage. However, Ali failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions when he went back to work and began claiming even more benefits, and entered further fraudulent claims.
At the time of the trial he had already repaid £14,900 in over payments.
Credit to Reigate and Banstead
Sentencing Ali at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, June 18, Judge Heather Baucher said: "To their credit Reigate & Banstead Borough Council carried out a thorough investigation which saved the tax payer a considerable amount of money.
“You are obviously a man of substantial means and I am therefore going to sentence you to nine months in prison and you must pay costs of £3,000 to the prosecution.”
"I doubt this would have come to light unless you were caught red handed. The investigations were both detailed and properly maintained throughout.
“Your housing benefit claim was false from the outset, where you deliberately provided false tenancy agreements, false letters from an alleged landlord; which involved careful thoughtful planning.” “Benefit payments are for vulnerable people –not to support people who are deeply greedy, manipulative and cunning."
Zero tolerance
Cllr Victor Broad, Executive Member for Finance, said: “The Council’s Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team take positive action to prevent, detect and investigate benefit fraud in our community to ensure people are not claiming taxpayers’ money that they are not entitled to, and benefit is only paid to people in genuine need.
“In most cases, like this one, the fraud is deliberate and the council will take legal action against those who deliberately claim, or attempt to claim, benefits to which they are not entitled.
“The man in this case committed a serious fraud, which many taxpayers would find appalling. The council is very pleased with the outcome of this investigation and court ruling, which demonstrates our zero tolerance approach to benefit fraud.”
Report it
If you suspect someone of committing fraud or corruption, you should make an immediate note of your concerns and report them using the Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team online referral form.
Alternatively you can contact the Corporate Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Team to report your concerns by:
- calling the Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 01737 276483 (24 hours)
- emailing fraudstoppers@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Further information
For further information on Fraud and Corruption please see the Council's Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption page and the Council’s Anti Fraud and Anti Corruption Policy .
Last updated : 05/08/2011
