Online Charmer Jailed For Fleecing Seventeen Women

A “sophisticated and charismatic” online fraudster – who posed as a wealthy white American businessman – conned a fortune out of a string of women who fell for his fake charms.

Seventeen victims have been identified in the USA, Canada and Trinidad & Tobago and one woman sent him £177,000 and another was bankrupted.

Hery Agunu, 25, (pic.top) of Odessa Road, Forest Gate, East London abused Facebook, dating websites and other social media to build a fake online profile.

Victims sent money to tide him over after being convinced he had won a multi-million pound Olympic contract and the funds were laundered via the bank account of Evelina Sisin, 39, (pic.bottom) of Chiltern House, Beaconsfield Road, Edmonton.

Agunu pleaded guilty to committing fraud by false representation and received six years and four months imprisonment and Sisin received eighteen months for money laundering at Isleworth Crown Court.

The scam was exposed after a bank in the US stopped a payment, which they believed to be fraudulent and alerted the authorities.

The US authorities handed the case over to Operation Podium – which targetted Olympic Games-associated crime - and Agunu was tracked down.

The defendant's 'M.O' was to portray himself as a widowed businessman in search of love and companionship and he built a number of aliases for himself, using details of real people.

He spent anything from two weeks to months to groom his victims into forming a relationship with him and even falling in love.

The next step in Agunu's scam would be to persuade the women that he was struggling financially and needed to borrow money until he got paid.

In one scam he told the victim that he had won a multi-million pound contract to deliver 'platform and transport services' for the Metropolitan Police Service during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He went to lengths researching and writing a fake lucrative contract showing himself as the winner of the work.

The victims are aged from their mid 50s to late 70s.

Detective Superintendent Nick Downing, from Operation Podium, said: "Agunu was a sophisticated and charismatic operator who deliberately wormed his way into way into women's affections, promising love and marriage, simply to rip them off.

"He has made thousands of pounds, and left a number of women suffering more than just financial lost.

"My advice to anyone is simple, no matter what the circumstances, never give money to anyone you meet online and cannot prove for yourself they are who they say.

"Even if they use the name of a well-known organisation, such as ours, or produce professional looking documents in an attempt to add credence to their claims. Such things are all too easy to fake and it is almost certainly not genuine.”

Parking Meter Scammer Shot Dead Over £250,000 Debt

A Kosovan parking meter criminal was shot dead over a £250,000 debt by an associate now starting a life sentence.

Cima Sogojeva, 27, (pic. top) made a fortune ripping-off London Borough of Westminster meters and gave the cash to 32 year-old fellow-countryman Lundrim Gjikokaj (pic. bottom) for safe keeping.

Gjikokaj, of Western Elms Avenue, Reading, Berkshire executed Mr. Sogojeva at his Golders Green flat, shooting him three times in the back and head, also stabbing the victim.

Mr. Sogojeva lost £177,000 when police raided a security box he stashed some of his criminal fortune in and fearing more raids handed the rest of his loot to the defendant.

They met in Caroline Court, Highfield Road on October 6, 2008, but instead of returning the money Gjikokaj murdered his one-time associate and fled the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield, of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “Lundrim Gjikokaj presented a carefully crafted alibi to the police after his arrest, cynically claiming that he had been elsewhere at the time, and that he had been a 'close friend' of the victim and claimed to be 'heartbroken' at hearing of Cima's demise.

“A detailed investigation established that Gjikokaj, a compulsive gambler, had in fact meticulously planned the fatal events, and his motivation was purely to avoid paying a significant and rapidly escalating debt.

“Faced with the prospect of having to answer difficult questions during the trial, he refused to give evidence to the jury.”

During a four-week Old Bailey trial the court heard that at 11:15am police received a 999 call by a member of the public, stating that they had heard shots fired at an address in Highfield Road.

Officers and paramedics attended and found Mr. Sogojeva collapsed with gun shot and knife wounds inside the address. He was pronounced dead at the scene.




Detectives established Gjikokaj had continually dodged Cima because of a financial debt thought to be in the region of £250,000.

Following a detailed enquiry into his movements it was established that he had met Mr. Sogojeva at the victim's home address on the morning of the murder.

A search of the crime scene and wider area identified crucial forensic evidence linking Gjokokaj to the shooting.

He will serve a minimum of twenty-eight years imprisonment before he can be considered for parole. 



'Lesbian' Asylum-Seeker Jailed For Benefits And ID Plot

A Ugandan identity and benefits fraudster - currently trying to convince the Home Office she will be persecuted for being a lesbian if deported - was jailed for sixteen months yesterday for her role in an eighteen year £4m plot.

Betty Tibakawa, 24, studied here for three years under a false identity after entering the country five-and-a-half years ago on a six month visa and her lengthy asylum battle has become a cause celebre despite the authorities firm belief she has invented her account of homophobic abuse in her homeland.

Tibakawa, of Cordell House, Newton Road, Finsbury Park pleaded guilty to conspiring with others, including ringleader Ruth Nabaguzi, 49, to defraud immigration and DSS departments and other government departments between June 12, 1993 and September 9, 2011.

She also pleaded guilty to making an application for UK naturalisation in a false name and using that identity to make a fraudulent claim for £4,503 in jobseekers allowance, plus approximately £2,000 in social fund benefits.

"The crown say miss Tibakawa assisted others in using and abusing identities," prosecutor Miss Kerry Broome told Croydon Crown Court. "Once she assumed the false identity claims were made for benefits and the like."

Tibakawa entered the UK on July 5, 2007 on condition she stay no longer then six months, but in January 2011 applied to the Home Office for asylum under her true identity, claiming she was the victim of homophobia in Uganda.

She claims she was branded on her inner thighs with a flat iron filled with red-hot coals while growing up in Uganda and her case has benefited from the support of Medical Justice and Human Rights Watch in this country.

She studied for three years under the false identity of Taty Mangangi at Waltham College, but failed to appear for her naturalisation swearing-in ceremony under this name, instead launching the asylum bid.

Tibakawa is currently residing in Home Office accommodation and is in receipt of "pocket money" from the government.

Her lawyer Mr. Patrick Maggs told the court: "She is at the lower end of offending and was more of a customer of Ruth Nabaguzi than a foot soldier.

"She arrived in this country aged eighteen and at that young age she made a series of appalling decisions.

"This is a young woman, if not searching for a better life, then trying to achieve a normal life. Just trying to get the best life she can in this country.

"The crown are taking a monolithic attitude and do not accept her asylum claim and what is hanging over her head at the moment is worse than any custodial sentence."

Judge Nicholas Ainley told a tearful Tibakawa: "There has to be an immediate custodial sentence, but I will make it as short as I can. You allowed false identities to be developed and you adapted one for yourself."

Church Scout Leader Accused Of Abusing Three Boys

A “deeply manipulative” church activist and cub scout leader plied two young brothers and another boy with treats and organised fun events in order to sexually abuse them, a jury were told today.

The boys, aged four to ten years-old, were entertained by mock-medieval swordfighting duels, swimming trips, videos and given sweets, ice-cream and cash, Croydon Crown Court heard.

James Edward Bailey, 69, (pictured) of Kettering Court, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath has pleaded not guilty to fifteen charges dating back twenty years when the boys were aged between four and ten years-old.

The brothers, now aged twenty-eight and twenty-four, attended a church in Thornton Heath in the early 1990's where Bailey was a parishoner and trusted by their parents to look after them.

Bailey – known as Jim – later became a cub scout leader at a church in Addiscombe and is accused of abusing the third boy, now twenty, in his car after a group trip to South Norwood Leisure Centre, Portland Road.

“It seems apparent at the time that Bailey was a single man, keen on the church and cub scouts, both of which gave him access to young boys,” explained prosecutor Mr. Tony Badenoch.

“It also involves manipulation by an abuser with offers of sweets, ice-cream, money and the opportunity to watch grown-up action films.

“Bailey has an unhealthy interest in young boys and is deeply manipulative.

“They were not treats. They came with a price and that price was abuse,” Mr. Badenoch told the jury.

The brothers reported Bailey to the police three years ago after a chance encounter with him at Tesco's in Thornton Heath and the third man, who they do not know, came forward nearly two years later.

“The older brother told police that as a child he spent quite a bit of time with Jim and what was laid on the quite good fun.

“This included Jim running a medieval club, staging sword fights and assisting in school fetes and performances,” added the prosecutor.

“Their father, a missionary, very much trusted Bailey and he was a regular visitor to the family home.

“The older brother told police Jim touched him and got him to touch him back and said: 'Don't tell your parents.'

“He started taking him home and let him watch grown-up films and told police Jim had filmed him at the defendant's former home in Clifton Road.

“The younger brother told police Jim had put his hand down the front of his trousers and rubbed his penis and testicles.”

There was also a sexual incident involving the boy and Bailey's pet dog, the jury were told, and an incident when the defendant took him swimming.

Bailey is accused of performing a sex act on the third boy after a different swimming pool trip when he also offered him sweets and cash.

He denies three sample charges of indecently assaulting the older brother, plus five counts of indecency with the same child.

He has pleaded not guilty to two sample counts of indecently assaulting the younger brother plus four counts of indeceny with the child and one count of indecency with the third child.

Trial continues.............

150 MPH Death Crash Driver Jailed

A BMW driver, who crashed into another vehicle at 150mph, killing the occupant, has been jailed for seven years.

Shehzad Munir, 25, (pictured) of Boundary Road, Plaistow was driving his black 645i along the A13 in Rainham on September 9, 2010 at 1.25am when he collided with a red Nissan Primera.

The other driver, 30 year-old Sukhpreet Singh Chimber, of Arterial Road, Grays was pronounced dead at the scene.

Munir taken to an East London police station and arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Detective Sergeant Joe Lock, of the Road Death Investigation unit at Chadwell Heath, said: “This sentence reflects the way the courts view of this type of offence. 



“The defendant in this matter drove his vehicle in excess of twice the national speed limit without any consideration for other road users. 



“As a result, an innocent family man has lost his life. 



“I would hope this sends out a positive message that the Metropolitan Police Service deals robustly with matters of this nature.” 

'Lobster Pot' Cocaine Mastermind Jailed

A 'lobster pot' cocaine smuggler, who tried to import £53m worth of the drug, has been jailed for twenty-eight years.

Edward Henry Austin, 47, (pictured) from Welling, Kent had orchestrated the plot, involving five accomplices who collected the 255kg haul from the English Channel.

The cocaine – packed into eleven holdalls – was dropped into the sea by a container ship sailing from Brazil to antwerp, Belgium in May 2010.

To disguise the smuggling operation as legitimate fishing the holdalls were tied along a rope resembling submerged lobster pots.

The four-man 'fishing' crew and another accomplice were caught and given prison sentences totalling 104 years.

Austin had fled to the costa-del-crime in Spain, but was returned to the UK from Fuengirola in January.

Detective Inspector Colin Stephenson, of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Central Task Force, said: "‘We will robustly investigate organised criminal gangs involved in polluting the streets of London with cocaine.

“These criminal networks employ sophisticated methods to smuggle cocaine to the UK and flood our streets with the drug.

“This multi-agency investigation has shown that the MPS will rigoursly pursue those involved in these criminal enterprises.”

Mob Stormed Fried Chicken Takeaway

A teenage student, trashed a fast-food takeaway shop with a seven-strong gang of friends, after staff tried to detain one of the group for sneaking in the back door.

Staff were left with cuts and bruises during the violent disturbance and one victim needed a total of five stitches to eye and head wounds.

Mayooran Ravikumar, 19, of Cheveral Avenue, Coventry pleaded guilty to affray at Chicken Cottage, London Road, Croydon on May 12, last year and was sentenced to a twelve month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Miss Olivia Kong told Croydon Crown Court today: “A fight took place at the chicken shop after a male entered through the back door and was detained by workers.

“He was asked by the worker: 'What are you doing?' and said: 'I just want to wash my hands.'

“A number of males, including this defendant, entered and tried to take the male out of the shop and a fight took place.

“The police arrived and by the time they got there tables and chairs were everywhere.

“Some of the staff were bleeding and needed medical aid. It was quite a serious fight,” added Miss Kong.

“One of the victims received a laceration to his eyebrow, which recquired five stitches, and a laceration to his forehead, which needed three stitches and there were two other cuts over his eye and bruising to his ear.”

Ravikumar (pictured) was only identified after the incident by CCTV and a hat he left behind at the scene.

The court heard he lives with his parents in Coventry, but is currently studying in Brighton.

Recorder Steven Kay QC said: “It was an attempt to rescue someone who plainly tried to steal from the shop.”

Tyre Slash Stabbing: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder

Police investigating the murder of a man in North London – fatally stabbed shortly after his car tyres were slashed – have made an arrest.

Teon Palmer, 28, (pictured) suffered a single stab wound to the chest at aproximately 11.00pm on October 20 in Montagu Road, Lower Edmonton.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 23 year-old suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed to return to a police station in early December.

It is believed Mr. Palmer's a car had all four tyres slashed in the moments leading up to the stabbing.

Up to seven black males, described as wearing hooded tops or jackets, were seen making off from the location.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Andy Yeats of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “We know there were people in the area at the time of the assault on Teon Palmer.

“I would ask anyone who was in the area of Montagu Road and Goodwin Road, or the surrounding streets, to contact my team.



“A blue Vauxhall Astra car belonging to Teon Palmer was vandalised prior to the assault on him.

“I believe those who damaged the car knew it belonged to Teon.

“Did you see anyone hanging around the vehicle or an altercation in the vicinity of the vehicle?



“If you have witnessed anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact my team - your information could prove vital to this investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 1570 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Mum Sentenced For Bar Brawl

A drunken mother-of-two, who joined a violent group-beating of a man after a row in a South-East London bar, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Stacey Fay, 27, of Dawes Street, Walworth was caught on CCTV striking the victim's head, causing a cut.

She pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, in Blackwater Street, East Dulwich on December 11, last year.

The disturbance began inside the Liquorish bar, (pictured) Lordship Lane when someone bumped into another person, who was using crutches.

The row continued outside, where the victim was surrounded by an angry group of men and women, including Fay, and repeatedly punched in the head.

Fay's shoes were caught on CCTV images and she was identified inflicting a blow.

Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court committed her to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing because they felt their powers of punishment, limited to six months imprisonment, were insufficient to meet the seriousness of the offence.

Her solicitor told the magistrates' court: “She was very inebriated. The police said she was visibly upset by seeing her own actions.”

The court also heard Fay is in a considerable amount of debt.

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for a year, and ordered to perform 100 hours community service work.

Woman Hit Panic Alarm When Harassing Ex Visited

A Bournemouth man, with alcohol and anger management issues, frightened his ex so much she activated a police panic alarm when he banged on the window of her home – breaching a restraining order.

Scaffolder Ian Walker-Smith, 45, of Westby Road also sent text messages and left abusive voicemails, despite a court order banning him from contacting the woman.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to harassing Claire Bullen, of Acre Lane, Carshalton on March 17 and April 18.

The court heard today that Walker-Smith was subject to a restraining order, imposed at the court on December 12, last year.

“She was so fearful of what took place she pushed a panic button and contacted the police immediately,” Judge Daniel Flahive told the defendant.

“You breached the restraining order by making abusive phone calls and by knocking on the window and making a nuisance of yourself.”

The court was told Walker-Smith has turned his life around and successfully completed an alcohol treatment order and has settled down with a new girlfriend.

He admitted the offence put him in breach of a twenty-two week suspended prison sentence, imposed for driving while disqualified and failing to give a sample to police.

Walker-Smith was placed on an eighteen month community order, with 100 hours community service, plus forty additional hours for breaching the suspended sentence.

“If you are back here your feet won't touch the ground,” added the judge.

Fraudster Jailed For Olympic-Sized Ticket Scam

A heartless Olympic scammer – who made €450,000 selling expensive non-existent tickets from two bogus websites – has been jailed for four years.

Amongst the victims, from twenty different countries, were the parents of Olympic competitors from France and Greece.

Christakis Ioannou, 44, (pictured) of Crantock Road, Catford was arrested at Gatwick Airport with €17,500 stuffed inside his shoes as he stepped off a flight from his Portugal hideaway.

The Metropolitan Police's Operation Podium Team discovered Ioannou wired his illicit profits to Portugeuse bank accounts, where he made cash withdrawls.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to participating in a fraudulent business and possessing and concealing criminal property.

Ioannou set up two fake websites nearly a year before the the opening ceremony, which were designed to look like official sites, offering for sale unlimited numbers of tickets for all Olympic events.

Over 400 people, from around the world, tried to buy tickets for the Games from www.2012-londonsummergames.com and www.2012-londonsummergames.org.

In five weeks the sites took over €450,000 in sales for non existent tickets to the Olympics.

Detectives from Podium tracked the websites back to Ioannou, who was based in Portugal, and he was arrested when returning to the UK.

Evidence was taken from victims in over twenty countries around the world including the USA; Italy; Netherlands and Denmark.

Detective Superintendent Nick Downing said: “Ioannou was the first fraudster of this type we identified and the biggest.

“This case clearly shows that online crime of this nature is not a victimless crime.

“Over four hundred people missed out on a chance to be part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and instead were simply ripped off.

“Ioannou set up simple yet genuine looking sites, and made thousands within only five weeks.

“Podium were so concerned about people falling foul of his scam we issued a number of public warnings naming the sites to try prevent additional people from getting conned.

“Once someone had bought their tickets, at vastly over inflated prices, they never heard from the website of his company again.



”These sites were picked up as part of our proactive monitoring of the internet and referrals from LOCOG to spot and then prevent fraudsters like Ioannou from cashing in on the popularity of the Games.

“Three hundred and forty websites were identified in this way. 

“Never buy your tickets from anywhere but the official event organisers, or those people authorised to sell on their behalf.”

Operation Trident Police Seize Illegal Guns

Gangbusting cops have seized six firearms and made six arrests after co-ordianted raids across South London.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – executed search warrants at addresses in Southwark, Croydon and Sutton.

They seized a rifle (pictured), sawn-off shotgun and four handguns (one pictured) following the intelligence-led investigation.

Two seventeen year-old male youths, an eighteen year-old male, a twenty year-old male and a thirty-three year old man were arrested along with a 19 year-old woman.

All were taken into custody at various south London police stations and the firearms have been sent for forensic testing.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Haydon said: “Trident officers continually target the suppliers of lethal firearms, protecting the public by removing guns from the hands of organised criminals and gangs.

“The Met has seized over two hundred and eighty firearms and a large amount of ammunition from the streets of London this year alone.

“The number of shootings taking place in London has also significantly reduced, with twenty-eight per cent fewer incidents than last year.”

'Matrix' Knifeman Sent To Mental Hospital

A knife-wielding paranoid schizophrenic, who thought police officers he tried to stab were computer clones from hit movie 'The Matrix', has been sent to a secure psychiatric hospital indefinitely.

University graduate George Asare, 25, of Elsinore Road, Forest Hill, South East London survived being shot five times by armed police and tasered twice during the late-night confrontation.

A Croydon Crown Court jury found he committed the offences, but returned a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity yesterday.

Asare (pictured) was charged with attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm on three different officers; causing criminal damage to a neighbour's VW Polo and a police car and affray in the early hours of February 19.

He believed her was under satellite surveillance from his employer and a neighbour and lunged at the officers with a twelve-inch knife when police were called to a report of vandalism.

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Clement told the court: "The charges reflect a frightening episode that was potentially very hazardous to three police officers and potentially lethal to this defendant.

"Residents were woken by a loud and repeated banging coming from the road and they saw this defendant damaging a car belonging to one of the neighbours.

"He was seen to kick the car and climbed onto the bonnet and with a brick smashed the windscreen.

"They describe him as acting clearly out of character and the events of the next thirty minutes speak volumes as an event of acute mental illness on the part of this defendant."

Police Sergeant Ian Fearn and Inspector Mick Chatterton were the first officers on the scene and saw the hooded Asare standing in the middle of the road with his hands in his pockets.

The defendant said: "No" when asked to show his hands and walked towards PS Fearn.

"As he got close he took his left hand out of his pocket in which he held a large knife and lashed out in the area of the officer's abdomen and missed by inches only because the officer arched back.

"The officer ran backwards and the defendant chased him around the car and again lashed out with the weapon and fortunately PS Fearn avoided that by arching his torso for a second time.

"The defendant turned his attention to the Inspector and with the knife at shoulder height and the blade pointing towards the officer he lunged at Inspector Chatterton.

'It was clear the Inspector was the next target and the officer ran around the vehicle. but Mr. Asare continued to chase him with that knife.

"All the officers could do to avoid being stabbed was to run."

Asare then slashed the police car's seats and bonnet, ripped out dashboard equipment and kicked the side panels.

He walked home, but emerged moments later with two large knives and walked into nearby Stanstead Road.

By now armed police had arrived and ordered Asare to: "Drop the knives."

Two officers then shot Asare with electric tasters as he walked forward with a knife in eat hand.

"Despite hitting him the tasters had no apparent effect," explained Mr. Clement.

A firearms officer, identified only as N71, was close to Asare.

"Mr. Asare lashed out with one of his knives towards the officer's head and neck area and the officer, and one of his colleagues, fired.

"Mr. Asare was hit twice, but neither live round had any obvious effect and he remained standing and was shot again.

"He dropped to his knees and stood up, still holding the knives, and was shot two more times."

As Asare received first aid he said: "Tell my dad I am sorry. I want to die, just kill me."

Money Launderer Ordered To Pay Up

A transport boss, who helped launder some of the profits of a £6 million illicit veterinary medicine scam - Europe's largest ever - was ordered to pay over £25,000 today or go to prison for fourteen months.

Mark Harvey, 53, of  Hollyhurst, Wilsley Pound, Sissinghurst, Kent - boss of Paddock Wood-based Trans-Vitesse Ltd. - made £27,777 from the scam.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court last year to laundering £292,000 between September 1 2006 and January 12 2008 in relation to 'Eurovet' profits - a French-based company that illegally sold animal medicines in the UK.

The money was paid through a company he created and Harvey was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 275 hours community service.

A Proceeds of Crime Act investigation revealed realisable assets belonging to Harvey totalling £26,273 and he has six months to pay the sum or go to prison.  

"He must have known it was an underhand business that was best kept as far away from the authorities as possible," announced Judge Nicholas Ainley when sentencing Harvey last year.

"He knew he was dealing with an illegitimate business enterprise and the illegitimate sale of veterinary products in the UK."

Harvey, whose freight company had a lucrative Formula One contract, ran into tax problems in 2006 and owed £41,000 VAT.

He was then introduced to 'Eurovet' boss Ronald Meddes, 73, who was a well-known local personality involved in local hunts and the horse community and agreed to get involved in the business.

Harvey became the company director of BEDRA and his wife Debbie the company secretary, but it was simply a front to funnel illegal UK profits to Meddes.

"We are talking here about millions of pounds," said Judge Ainley. "This business was turning over very substantial amounts of money indeed."

Illegal medicines were seized at Dover and Harvey's forged signature was discovered on paperwork, resulting in him being quizzed on April 3 2007 by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at a motorway service station.

Despite this scare Harvey continued laundering criminal cash for Meddes who told him BEDRA would never file accounts and be struck-off the company register.

"There is no evidence Mr. Harvey had ever been involved in sharp practise before, but he was invited to enter in an underhand business and he knew it," ruled the Judge.

"He knew he was dealing with a crook prepared to forge his signature and use his company to transfer illicit veterinary products.

"He is in it up to his neck and permitted BEDRA to trade and launder money to the Meddes accounts."

The judge told Harvey: It was your fault you were overawed by an extremely dangerous, skilful and impressive conman. A man you wanted to work with.

"This is what happens when you involve yourself with criminals."

Immigrant Family Fleeced UK Of £4M In Benefits

Members of an African family, who masterminded an 18-year £4m plot to defraud immigration and DSS departments by creating and using a string of false identities, were sentenced today. 

"When the phrase 'family business' was used that was no cliche, that was a reality," commented Croydon Crown Court Judge Nicholas Ainley. "Sentences of imprisonment are inevitable in this case."

Ringleader Ruth Nabaguzi, 49, (pic.top l.) of Church Road, Forest Gate, East London was jailed for six years and landed the NHS with a £2,280,000 bill for HIV Aids medication alone by obtaining multiple quantities in different identities.

She pleaded guilty to a total of twenty-six charges.

Lamulah Sekiziyuvu, 36, (main pic. l.) of Palmerston Road, Manor Park received 30 months; Albert Kaidi, 27, (main pic. mid.) received 30 months; his partner, mother-of-two Jordan Sebutemba, 26, (main pic. r.) of South Esk Road, Forest Gate received a 12 month sentence, suspended for 2 years and Dennis Kyeyune, 29, (pic.top r.) of Mitcham Road, Mitcham received 30 months.

The jury found them guilty of conspiring to defraud immigration and DSS departments and other government departments between June 12, 1993 and September 9, 2011.

Kaidi alone was convicted of assisting unlawful immigration on or about September 24, 2006 and making a false statement to obtain jobseeker's allowance between March 26, 2009 and August 24, last year.

The prosecution have calculated the total loss at £3,950,000, which includes £154,000 in state education; £37,500 in higher education; £650,000 form a sub-letting scam involving properties in receipt of housing benefit and £900,000 in other benefits.

"This was a fraud on a huge scale an it is an outrageous abuse of the hospitality you were offered by this country when you came here in trouble," announced Judge Ainley.

"The identities you used and no doubt sold were then used by other people. You had no scruples in bringing children to this country and then involving them in your criminal pursuits.

"This was motivated entirely by greed. All these identities were, for you, valuable commodities."

Mathy Matumba, 50, (pic. bottom r.) received four years for a £350,000 benefit fraud using multiple id's and nurse Lina Katongola, 29, (pic. bottom l.) received one year. 

Another defendant, 31 year-old Eddie Semanda received 4 months, suspended for a year.

"This case is summarised in two words: 'Identity fraud.' It is at the heart of this case against these defendants," prosecutor Mr. Paul Raudnitz told the court.

"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 and Kyeyune is her son.

"She employed multiple different identities and her true identity may never be known," explained Mr. Raudnitz of Nabaguzi.

"All the 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 was 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."