A benefits fraudster, who falsely posed as a student to avoid council tax, was caught trying to flee abroad after jumping bail.
Emmanuel
Okonji, 44, was locked-up for a month as he continued fighting the
charge, but eventually admitted the crime today after being refused
fresh bail.
The
Austrian passport-holder, of Waverley Road, Plumstead falsely claimed
in 2015 he was a full-time student at EThames Graduate School,
Ilford.
He
used a forged student certificate as proof, but after a Royal Borough
of Greenwich investigation was summonsed to appear at Bexley
Magistrates Court on May 8, last year.
Okonji
was bailed to appear at Woolwich Crown Court, but failed to show up
for his July date and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He
was arrested at Glasgow Airport on October 8, this year and in court
the next day claimed he lived and worked in Austria and had been
returning there when stopped.
Okonji
claimed he was not the man who jumped bail last year or made a
fraudulent claim.
By
now he was living in Northfleet and using his Austrian passport to
claim benefits.
Today
Okonji's application for bail was refused because he failed to prove
he was living and working in Austria.
After
hearing he would be remanded in custody for a three-day trial in
March, next year Okonji decided to finally admit his guilt.
After
chatting with his lawyer for an hour he pleaded guilty to fraud by
false representation.
Okonji
received four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was
ordered to pay £1,200 costs.
He
also received six weeks imprisonment for jumping bail, which he has
already served on remand.
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