17 June 2013
Former council housing officer jailed for illegally subletting a council flat
A former council housing officer was, last week, jailed after being caught illegally subletting a council property.
Izein Emmanuel Atafo, 48 of Lovell Road, Southall, received his sentence at Reading Crown Court on Friday 14 June 2013 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing in January.
He has been jailed for two years and 10 months.
Mr Atafo pleaded guilty to two offences:
- Fraud by abuse of his position as a housing officer employed by Slough Borough Council between 3 August 2010 and 19 May 2012
- Making or supplying an article for use in fraud between 2 August 2010 and 28 September 2010, namely mutual exchange documents and a copy of a passport taken from confidential housing records.
An investigation was launched after a tip-off that a council flat in Paget Road, Langley was being sublet illegally.
During the investigation it was found that Mr Atafo, a housing officer who was employed by the council, had been giving the keys to the property to third parties with the intention that they sublet the property to tenants without the council’s knowledge or permission, and had been receiving payments from a local lettings agent who had placed tenants in the flat.
At a hearing on 16 May 2013, Mr Atafo was remanded in advance of his sentencing last week.
Jon Moores, the council’s housing fraud investigator, said: “This case shows that no matter who you are, if you are committing housing fraud, we are determined to deal with it.
“I hope the sentence in this case, warns others of the severe penalties if they get caught committing fraud.”
Sohail Munawar, commissioner for social and economic inclusion, said: “The large number of people on our housing waiting list is well known and we need all our council properties in circulation to help people most in housing need.
“Mr Atafo decided to bypass this system and take money from a local lettings agency so their clients could, basically, jump the housing queue.”
He added: “Housing fraud is never acceptable,but this case was made worse by it being a council officer who abused his position, and the trust placed in him, for his own financial gain.
“Thankfully the incidents like this by staff are rare but we continue to be vigilant.”
Mr Atafo was immediately suspended following his arrest and was dismissed by the council in February 2013, after his guilty plea.
Ends
Slough Borough Council, St Martins Place, 51Bath Road, Slough, Berks SL1 3UF