Update: Royal Greenwich Catches Big Issue Seller In £60,000 Benefit Fraud

by our RBG Correspondent | Woolwich

A man who claimed to be selling the Big Issue and benefits in order to support his family has been given a 16 month suspended prison sentence for having falsely claimed Housing and Council Tax benefits from the Royal Borough of Greenwich, totaling over £60,000.

Mr Robert Dumitru, 35, of Ancona Road SE18 declared to the Royal Borough that he was a single parent residing with his 8 children and that his only income was from his self-employment as a painter and decorator, earning just under £4,000 per year. He also declared that he held only one bank account. As a result of his low income, Housing and Council Tax benefits were awarded to him.

Enquiries by the Royal Borough’s Internal Audit & Anti-Fraud team found that Mr Dumitru actually held three bank accounts that he had not declared, one of which was held in Romania.

Investigations showed that during the period that he claimed benefits he received over £105,000 into the accounts.The investigation also revealed that he had transferred over £67,000 into a Romanian bank account.

Mr Dumitru was interviewed by Council officers and confirmed he was no longer a painter and decorator and was now selling the Big Issue to support himself and his children. He also claimed that his partner had just returned to live at his address the day before the interview.

When asked about the credits into his account he stated that it was money that he and his family earned by selling the Big Issue, saying that “business is blooming”. He claimed that the money he sent to Romania was used by his children when they went on holiday there.

Mr Dumitru appeared at Bexley Magistrates Court on 15 September 2015 where he pleaded guilty to 2 offences under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 for the Housing benefit and Council Tax benefit fraud totalling £60,058.80 during the period January 2010 to April 2015.

The case was passed to Crown Court for sentencing and on 3 November 2015 Mr Dumitru appeared at Woolwich Crown Court and was sentenced to a 16 month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years, and ordered to work 200 hours unpaid in the community. He was also ordered to pay the Royal Borough costs of £1,399.00 and to repay the benefits he defrauded back to the Royal Borough.

Councillor Maureen O’Mara (pictured top left) said “The detection of this fraud is an excellent example of the strengthened investigation techniques the Royal Borough is now using, not only to detect fraud but to prevent it from happening. Mr Dumitru’s greed and selfishness have earned him a criminal record and the full £60,000 that he stole has to be repaid.”

If you suspect someone of committing fraud against the royal borough please call 0800 169 6975 or email fraud@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. Any information you give will be treated in confidence.