Social Worker And Care Boss Deny Greedy Plot Against Council

"Abused Her Position": Baiyewu

A social worker exploited two vulnerable adults by grossly-inflating their care needs so the private company she ran with a co-plotter could cash-in, a court heard today.

Valerie Baiyewu, 51, also illegally sub-let a private rented flat - effectively turning it into a care home for the men - behind the backs of the council she was defrauding, the jury were told.

Merton Council social worker Baiyewu, of Nottingham Avenue, West Beckton, Newham has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud the council by abusing her position between May 1 and December 15, 2015.

Care company director Ayodeji Aderounmu, 50, of Scotson House, Marylee Way, Lambeth also denies the same charge.

Baiyewu has also pleaded not guilty to fraud by abuse of position between the same dates.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Baiyewu reassessed the care needs of two clients from £1,107 and £5,208 per year to £19,913 and £24,588 respectively.

At the same time she and Aderounmu together arranged for companies they controlled - AAA Carers Ltd and Matrix AA Care Ltd. - to take over the contracts.

Prosecutor Mr. Nick Wayne said: “Baiyewu abused her position  as a social worker for gain. Aderounmu would gain more hours and more money as a carer and potentially make money by subletting houses out to clients of hers.”

The pair rented a Mitcham flat at in

Holborn Way at £1,550 per month, which they sub-let to the men, who were on housing benefit for £850 per month each.

One of the men, Bazhad Bakshe-Riazi, had suffered a brain injury in 2013 and needed speech and language therapy and suffered weakness to the right side of his body and had been referred to the council by a charity.

Care Boss: Aderounmu

The second man, Giovandan Karunanithy, was partially-sighted with limited english and needed help with his shopping and preparing food.

“She concluded Mr. Bakshe-Riazi was no longer able to manage the activities of his daily life because there had been, in her opinion, a degradation of his condition,” said Mr. Wayne.

“She recommended a new care package substantially greater than the original care package.”

She also reassessed Mr. Karunanithy. “She concluded his health and well-being had been compromised by his living conditions.”

The jury were told Baiyewu failed to disclose she was the men’s new landlord to Merton Council.

“Her plan was to house them together and the Crown say this was with a view to make money out of the arrangement.”

The defendants passed themselves off as a couple intending to live in the flat when agreeing the letting with the owner, the jury were told.

“They had no intention of living there, but house clients of Baiyewu in the property.

“They are clearly in a business relationship, the Crown say and none of this was disclosed to Merton Council.”

The fraud was exposed when the flat owner, Louis Broomes, visited to check and a neighbour revealed it was not a couple, but two men living there, the court heard.

Aderounmu was “cagey” during an internal inspection, said Mr. Wayne. “It began to dawn on Mr. Broomes that his property was being used as a care home.

“He wanted everyone out of the property and told Merton Council.”

Baiyewu was arrested at work on November 23, 2015. “She said she thought it would be a good solution for them if they lived together.

“She said she had taken no profit.

“By the deliberate exaggerating of hours of care it was Merton Council who were defrauded.

“They had to pay out for care services that were simply not needed.”

Trial continues………….