Failed Algerian Asylum Seeker Jailed For £370K Benefit Fraud

Boudemagh: £370k Benefit Fraud

A failed Algerian asylum seeker, who used five other identities during a £370,000 benefit fraud, has been jailed for five years.

Saif Boudemagh, 41, used a forged French identity card to illegally enter the UK in March, 2000 and when his asylum appeal failed he successfully obtained residency via marriage to a UK citizen after another appeal.

The father-of-one, who was given a one-bed council flat at Blake House, Brecknock Road Estate, Upper Holloway immediately began claiming benefits once he received his National Insurance number.

Between June, 2007 and April, 2015 he made multiple claims in fake French identities for Housing Benefit, (HB); Council Tax Benefit (CTB); Income Support (IS); Carer’s Allowance (CA); Incapacity Benefit, (IB); Employment Support Allowance, (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance, (DLA).

Remarkably Boudemagh was still in receipt of HB and Child Tax Credits up to the day of his imprisonment, but he will not face confiscation proceedings because no assets have been found.

The Department of Work & Pensions say the only way they can recover any money is by making small deductions to any benefits he receives after his release.

Boudemagh, who received full British citizenship in October, 2007 was convicted of twelve counts of fraud by a Blackfriars Crown Court jury and acquitted of five more, totalling £100,000.

As well as his own bogus applications Boudemagh also claimed £16,798 in CA for looking after non-existent pal Jamel Bensaid, 42, whose id pocketed £25,618 in IB; £16,849 in ESA; £32,104 in DLA; £95,443 in HB and £5,790 in CTB.  

He Even Enjoyed Free Disabled Travel

A fake French passport was used by Boudemagh to establish identity.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Evans told the jury: “However, this was not a genuine document and the Home Office has no record or trace of an identity in that name.

“There is conclusive evidence that some of the forms relating to benefit claims in that name were completed in the defendant’s handwriting.”

Boudemagh told the jury he was innocently completing benefit claim forms as an English-speaker for members of the close-knit north London Algerian community.

Benefit claims also made in the name of Sidhamad Ayad, 39. “A false French passport was also submitted as proof of identity in support of these claims and the photo on this passport is that of the defendant,” said Mr. Evans.

“His mobile phone number is given as the claimants’ contact number.”

Another Forged French Passport

This identity received a total of £41,746 in IB and ESA after Boudemagh concocted a bogus tale this claimant needed a walking stick and toilet hand rails.

Another £14,251 was paid out in DLA and £22,519 in HB.

He also used fake French identity documents to make benefit claims in name of Allel Zerabib, 44, and Taric Ziad, 45, and “hijacked” the genuine identity of Frenchwoman Nadia Regad, 42.

By now she was a married mum-of-two living in Paris, but her identity was used to claim £4,235 in CA for ‘Mr. Zerabib’ who received ESA totalling £16,172 and £17,195 in DLA.

This id was also exploited to collect £46,172.15 in HB and CTB.

Boudemagh pocketed a further £14,626 in DLA using the Ziad identity.

The Department for Work & Pensions paid benefits on the basis the claimants had depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, varicose veins, lower back pain and in one case a disabled finger.

Boudemagh’s flat was raided on April 7, 2015 and documents were found in the names of the false claims and bank cards for accounts the money was paid into.

He even used a disabled Freedom Pass in a false identity to enjoy free transport around the capital.

“This defendant played a leading role in the offending, involving at least one other,” said Mr. Evans. ‘It was a sophisticated offence requiring planning and the hijacking of identities to claims benefits and completion of medical evidence.”

Benefit fraud was a family affair, with his brother Redouane Boudemagh, 46, an illegal immigrant, receiving three years imprisonment for a £218,000 scam last year.

Boudemagh applied for asylum on arrival in 2000, which was refused and he was issued with a notice for removal from the UK.

On January 30, 2002 he applied to stay as a spouse of British citizen, which was refused, but Boudemagh successfully appealed on April 15, 2004.

He immediately began claiming benefits as the carer of his wife, Paula Boudemagh, and since February, 2009 claimed Income Support as single-parent of their son, now aged fourteen years-old.

He claimed HB and CTB at three different addresses they have resided at since.

After the police and DWP raid he refused to answer questions at Islington Police Station. 

Judge Jane Sullivan told him last week: ‘It cannot be said you showed remorse. You fought the case in the face of overwhelming evidence.”