Three Convicted Of Benefit Fraud At Belfast Court

27 February 2007
THREE CONVICTED OF BENEFIT FRAUD AT BELFAST COURT
Three men were convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for obtaining benefits to which they were not entitled.
Kirk Graham (29) of Charles Street South, Belfast was found guilty of wrongfully cashing benefit cheques to the value of Ł466. He was fined Ł400 and ordered to pay court costs of Ł25.
Alex de Araujo (30) of Tandragee Road, Portadown had claimed Job Seeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit to the value of Ł1,568 while working. He will have to pay a fine of Ł150 and court costs of Ł16.
Vincent Turley (41) of Eskdale Gardens, Belfast was given six months probation for claiming Job Seeker’s allowance of Ł1,761 while working. He will also have to pay court costs of Ł31.
All three will have to repay the money they fraudulently claimed to the Social Security Agency.
This brings to 63 the number of convictions secured so far this year by the Social Security Agency in its campaign against benefit fraud.

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