Benefit fraudster who claimed £27,000 jailed (From Sutton Guardian)

Benefit fraudster Ambalavanar Sathantharaja who claimed £27,000 jailed

6:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

A benefit fraudster was jailed for a year after illegally claiming £27,000 housing and council tax support.

Ambalavanar Sathantharaja, of Basinghall Gardens, Sutton was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on August 29 after failing to declare to the housing and council tax benefit team that he owned several properties.

Over the course of two years, Sathantharaja illegally claimed thousands of pounds in housing and council tax benefit while failing to inform Sutton Council he was receiving rental income for a shop and two flats he owned in Kenley, Surrey.

The council's benefit investigator’s discovered that Sathantharaja had transferred property into his wife’s name while in receipt of benefit.

Sathantharaja was also ordered to pay the overpayment back in full.

If he is unable to make the payment he could be forced under the Proceeds of Crime Act to sell his properties.