Benefit cheat had £34,000 savings in bank

A benefit cheat’s considerable financial savings were uncovered by fraud officers from Rochdale Borough Council leading to him being hauled before the courts.

Mohammed Aslam, 41, of Royds Street, Rochdale has been claiming housing council tax and income support benefits to the sum of £20,130.39 over the last four years despite having £34,000 worth of capital savings banked that he failed to disclose to Rochdale Borough Council and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Council’s in-house legal team brought the case to Bury & Rochdale Magistrates Court on 23 July 2013 where he pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud. Aslam, a father of five has been unemployed for some time and is medically unfit for work. In court he admitted he withheld information about his savings knowing that this would affect his entitlement to benefit.

He was sentenced to a two month Community Order and will be subject to a curfew between 9pm to 7am every day. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Mr Aslam has since voluntarily started to repay monies owed to the Council and DWP.