An Essex doctor has pleaded guilty to fraud after attempting to purchase a Lambeth council property through the Right To Buy scheme.
Dr Enamuna Enobakhare, 60, of Romford, attempted to purchase a property on Phil Brown Place on the Heath Road Estate at a discounted price under the scheme after falsely claiming to live there.
After an investigation by the council’s fraud team, Enobakhare admitted to failing to disclose he did not live at the property and was sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work and must pay a total of £10,381 in costs.
If the sale had gone through he would have benefitted from a £100,000 discount on the price of the property.
However the investigation was launched after concerns over Enobakhare illegally subletting the property and the evidence found against him scuppered his plans.
The council found that he was living in Romford at a property owned by his wife, was registered to vote there and was also registered there with the NHS.
He was charged with fraud by false representation in relation to the Right To Buy scheme and with fraud by failing to disclose to Lambeth Council the fact that he was not living there.
Cllr Matthew Bennett, Cabinet member for Housing praised the work of the fraud team and hopes the incident will discourage potential offenders.
“This is another excellent example of the work of Lambeth’s Fraud Team and underlines the council’s commitment to come down hard on cheats and frauds,” he said.
“This property could have been used to house a family, not to line the pockets of a crook like Enobakhare.
“I hope this send a very clear message to people who think they can get away with this sort of appalling behaviour.”
The Right To Buy scheme allows tenants of council-owned properties to buy it for themselves at a discount as long as they can prove it is their only or main home.
Picture courtesy of John Linwood, with thanks
