Overview
- On Friday, Southwark Crown Court sentenced Adam Mejri to 42 months in prison after he admitted two counts of welfare fraud and two counts of fraud by false representation.
- Prosecutors say Mejri assumed the identity of tenant Munir Altaib to occupy a council flat near Grenfell Tower and repeatedly tried to claim a £5,000 Grenfell-area payment that was never paid because of identity concerns.
- The DWP says Mejri obtained more than £160,000 in benefits and council support, made up of about £52,000 in employment support allowance, roughly £107,000 in housing benefit and about £4,000 in council tax support.
- Investigators found he was illegally sub-letting the flat for about £1,200 a month and renting two other Westminster properties while failing to declare that income, and police evidence showed missed Jobcentre appointments matched overseas travel in September 2019 when he was placed under surveillance.
- The case followed a joint probe by the DWP, Kensington and Chelsea council and the CPS and could lead to orders to recover his proceeds, with authorities saying the prosecution protects limited funds meant for genuine Grenfell victims.