Crime Solicitors

A Bedfordshire man who wrongly claimed £137,572 in benefit payments from Bedford Borough Council has been jailed for 16 months by Luton Crown Court.

Online publisher BedfordshireNews.co.uk reports that Alas Miah, of Brereton Road – formerly of The Avenue, Bedford – admitted seven offences relating to benefit fraud between 1998 and 2012.

The court heard that when Miah first claimed Housing and Council Tax Benefit from Bedford Borough Council in 1998, he said he had no savings or investments – investigators for the council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) working on a tip off from the public later found he owned a commercial premises in Northamptonshire and had also taken out a valuable insurance policy.

In 2000, the property was passed to Miah’s son, but it may be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act at a hearing in October.

Miah was described in court as a man of previously good character and the chair of the funeral committee at his local mosque, who did not lead a lavish lifestyle.

However, the judge at Luton Crown Court decided that, because of the amount of money involved in the benefit fraud and the period of time the deception spanned, an immediate prison sentence was unavoidable.

Miah will serve at least half the term in jail and the remainder on licence, unless he offends again.

Duncan Lewis Benefit Fraud Solicitors

Duncan Lewis benefit fraud solicitors can advise claimants at any stage of a charge for benefit fraud, including charges relating to:

• Bedroom Tax fraud
• Blue Badge fraud
• Child Tax Credits fraud
Council Tax fraud
• Disability Living Allowance fraud
• Housing Benefit fraud
• Income Support fraud
• Jobseeker’s Allowance fraud
• Pensions Credits fraud
• Universal Credit fraud
• Working Tax Credits fraud.


For expert legal advice on benefit fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis benefit fraud solicitors on 020 7923 4020.