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Cheat jailed for £100,000 job fraud
A FAILED asylum seeker who made over £100,000 by working under a bogus name and illegally claiming benefits has been jailed and branded "dishonest and greedy".
Bavwidi Mpanzu, aged 31, of Raeburn Way, Gleadless Valley, Sheffield, travelled to Britain from the Congo nearly nine years ago using a false passport, later claiming benefits while also working for over three years.
Sheffield Crown Court heard Mpanzu, who founded the organisation Africa Time, which promotes awareness of refugee issues, is "held in high regard" in the community.
But Judge Recorder Simon Bourne-Arton QC jailed him for 18 months telling him his 1,000 a month wage at Cadbury, in Hillsborough, was a "king's ransom" compared to pay in Congo.
David Wain, prosecuting, said Mpanzu fraudulently made over 117,000 over six years.
Mr Wain said he arrived in the UK in 2001, and applied for asylum, but was turned down.
"By the end of 2002 all routes of appeal were exhausted," he told the court. "He was asked to leave voluntarily on December 23, 2002, and his benefits were withdrawn.
"In August 2004 an appeal for benefits was rejected - and in October he obtained employment at Cadbury by using a false name."
Mr Wain said Mpanzu was granted temporary admission in 2005, which gave him the right to remain but not to work, and started claiming benefits in his own name in 2006.
Mpanzu went on to earn over 22,000 through benefits and employment before he was arrested at work in January.
Sheila Whitehead, defending, said: "He felt he had no choice but to work. He accepts the right thing to do would have been to stop working when he started receiving benefits."
Miss Whitehead said Mpanzu did not live an "extravagant lifestyle", adding: "He was taking home just under 1,000 a month. He is held in high regard in his community."
Recorder Bourne-Arton told him: "You have abused the fact this country treated you as a visitor and a guest.
"For a number of years, by using a false name, you had employment. Of course, in a sense, you earned the money - but you weren't entitled to it.
"That is made much worse by the fact that although you were earning 1,000 a month - absolutely a king's ransom for someone who lives in the country from which you came - you lied to obtain benefit.
"You have let down your friends and relatives. I've no doubt they did not know you were dishonest and greedy."
Mpanzu admitted obtaining money by deception, dishonestly making a false representation, and falsely obtaining benefits.
The judge did not make a deportation order adding: "That is in the hands of others."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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