Deputy prime minister's 'accountant' found guilty of Slough benefits con
Slough Borough Council has successfully prosecuted Robert Adewunmi, the former ‘accountant’ for the Deputy Prime Minister, after he pleaded guilty to two offences of making false statements and failing to declare a change of circumstances in reference to housing and council tax benefit claims.
Following reports by national newspapers and the BBC that Adewunmi was fraudulently trading and money laundering from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Slough Borough Council’s investigation unit carried out an enquiry into housing and council tax benefits claimed by the defendant in 2003/04.
Adewunmi, an unqualified Slough accountant, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court last week, to eight months imprisonment for the fraudulent claims to the council, to run concurrently with his present sentence of four years for the theft from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, given last year.
The judge stated that, although it was not normal for the benefit offences to incur prison sentences, in this case, there was a clear element of dishonesty and therefore he believed the sentence was appropriate.
Adewunmi was also ordered to repay the full £7401.59 overpayment of housing benefit to Slough council within six months as part of a confiscation order, which also dealt with the CPS matter regarding his previous conviction.
The judge ordered that failure to make repayments within six months will result in a consecutive three year imprisonment.
In order to claim Slough housing and council tax benefit, Adewunmi declared that his sister, Mabel Etchie, was his landlord and the owner of the property he rented at Mendip Close in Slough.
He also declared there was no relationship between himself and his wife, Tami Adewunmi, and their landlord.
Investigation officers soon established that Adewunmi had made false statements and that Mabel Etchie was related to him and has never owned the house on Mendip Close or collected any rent for the property.
The Slough property was in fact owned by his wife, Tami Adewunmi at the time of the claim. Investigation officers also established that Adewunmi had failed to declare the start of his employment in 2003.
Ian Wheatley, senior investigations officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “This has been a great victory for the council and the staff who worked hard on the case.
“It also sends out a very strong message to others thinking they can fraudulently claim benefits from the council and get away with it.
“We are very pleased that Mr Adewunmi has been ordered to pay back all the money and has also been given a prison sentence.”
Commissioner for legal and democratic services, Slough Cllr Dexter Smith, added: “The sentencing of Mr Adewunmi is a huge success for the council and will hopefully reassure the town’s residents who bide by the law and pay their taxes, that people who try and steal from the council will not get away with it.
“There are many people out there who need help with housing and council tax, I personally find it disgusting that people like Mr Adewunmi are taking away their entitlements.”
Slough Borough Council