A Ugandan family masterminded an 18-year plot to defraud immigration and DSS departments by creating and using a string of false identities, a jury were told yesterday.
Ruth Nabaguzi, 49, of Church Road, Forest Gate, East London was the conspiracy's ringleader and has already admitted a total of twenty-six charges and remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Five alleged accomplices deny taking part and their Croydon Crown Court trial is expected to last six months.
They are: Lamulah Sekiziyuvu, 36, (pic.l.); Albert Kaidi, 27, (pic.mid.); Jordan Sebutemba, 26, (pic.r.); Dennis Kyeyune, 29, and Alan Sentongo, 23.
"This case is summarised in two words: 'Identity fraud.' It is at the heart of this case against these five defendants," prosecutor Mr. Paul Raudnitz told the jury.
"The allegation is that they conspired together and with others, in particular Ruth Nabaguzi, to systematically, use, create and exploit false identities to facilitate fraud.
"These identities were misused to facilitate benefit and immigration fraud."
Describing Nabaguzi as the plot's ringleader Mr. Raudnitz added: "She was at the heart of the conspiracy. She agreed with people to use false identities to facilitate fraud.
"Each defendant at different times joined the conspiracy, attaching themselves to the agreement at some stage and it's tentacles went far and would do so for many years."
The prosecution say Sekiziyuvu is either Nabaguzi's daughter or niece; Kyeyune is her son and Sentongo either her son or nephew.
"She employed multiple different identities and her true identity may never be known," explained Mr. Raudnitz of Nabaguzi.
"All five defendants are either children of hers or related or associated with her."
During a police and UK Border Agency raid on an address in Mitcham Road, Mitcham on September 8, last year Kyeyune and Sentongo were arrested.
"Concealed in the shed roof in the back garden was a black holdall and inside was a vast array of passports and documents in multiple different identities.
"This was , in effect, a kit bag for identity fraud," said the prosecutor.
"Nabaguzi adopted and ruthlessly abused identities and obtained immigration status for herself in a number of different identities and for a number of other people and from them benefit claims would be made."
All five have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud immigration and DSS departments and other government departments between June 12, 1993 and September 9, 2011.
Kyeyune denies securing UK citizenship by deception on or before December 13, 2007 and Kaidi denies assisting unlawful immigration on or about September 24, 2006.
Kyeyune and Sentongo deny possessing articles in connection with fraud on or before September 8, last year and Kaidi alone denies making a false statement to obtain jobseeker's allowance between March 26, 2009 and August 24, last year.
Trial continues………
No comments:
Post a Comment