Conmen have tried to claim more than £630,000 meant for Grenfell survivors
So far 13 people who posed as victims to get payouts have been convicted in separate cases
A string of fraudsters have tried to claim more than £600,000 meant for survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The latest case saw Sharife Elouahabi, 38, of no fixed abode, admit fraud after trying to claim £103,475.60 for accommodation and financial help between June 23 2017 and June 25 this year.
He claimed to have been staying at a flat on the 21st floor of the tower block where a family is known to have died.
“Elouahabi shamelessly took advantage of the efforts to rehouse people whose homes had been destroyed by claiming his link to one of the flats, and he was subsequently put in hotel accommodation. Further investigations revealed that he had not even lived in the tower.
“This is the latest in what is sadly a long line of Grenfell-related frauds. We will continue to investigate and where appropriate prosecute anyone who is financially profiting from the Grenfell fire, and taking away resources and support for the true victims.”
So far, 13 people have been convicted in separate cases, with a total of more than £630,000 in bogus claims for money that was meant for those whose lives had been devastated.
Seventy two people died in the catastrophic fire that engulfed the Grenfell Tower block in west London on June 14 last year.
Those who have been convicted so far and the amount they each tried to claim are:
– Anh Nhu Nguyen, 53, from Bromley, south east London – £11,270
– Joyce Msokeri, 47, from Sutton, south west London – £19,000.
– Mohammad Ali Gamoota, 32, from Pimlico, central London – £6,264
– Elaine Douglas, 52, of no fixed address – £67,125.35.
– Tommy Brooks, 52, of no fixed address – £58,396.89
– Derrick Peters, 58, of no fixed address – £40,000
– Antonio Gouveia, 33, of no fixed address – £53,456.76
– Yonatan Eyob, 26, of no fixed address – £86,831.
– Jenny McDonagh, 39, from Abbey Wood, south east London – £62,000
– Mohammed Syed Rinku, 46, of no fixed address – £5070.26.
– Koffi Kouakou, 53, from Chelsea, south west London – more than £30,000
– Sharife Elouahabi, 38, of no fixed address, claimed a total of £103,475.60
– Abdelkarim Rekaya, 28, from Chelsea, south west London – £88,183.70
