A man was sentenced to 42 months in jail after using a false identity to fraudulently claim a flat near Grenfell Tower and attempting to access funds meant for victims of the 2017 fire, a court revealed.
Adam Mejri, aged 47, displayed emotions in court as he pleaded for leniency but was ultimately handed the sentence at Southwark Crown Court for a series of deceptive claims.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions, Mejri unlawfully obtained over £160,000 in benefits and council assistance. This included more than £52,000 in fake employment support allowance claims, around £107,000 in housing benefit claims, and £4,000 in local council tax support.
Prosecutors detailed that Mejri made multiple attempts to access a £5,000 support fund designated for Grenfell Tower fire victims.
In an incident in March 2018, Mejri visited the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council offices pretending to be the tenant of a vacant flat in close proximity to the tower. It was revealed in court that the actual tenant had left the country.
Using forged identity documents in the tenant’s name, Mejri convinced the council to remove a metal security door blocking access to the flat. He persistently sought the compensation payment intended for the legitimate tenant.
However, suspicions arose regarding Mejri’s identity, leading to the denial of the funds, as per court records.
Mejri was also found to be redirecting the former tenant’s mail to alternate addresses and subletting the flat for £1,200 per month, prosecutors disclosed. In July 2019, he allegedly made a fraudulent claim for universal credit using the same false identity.
Despite claiming to be physically and mentally unfit for work and missing Jobcentre appointments, investigations into his Facebook account revealed that he was abroad in Saudi Arabia during these times.
Prosecutors pointed out that Mejri was simultaneously receiving employment support allowance and housing benefits while earning income from subletting two additional properties in Westminster, without disclosing this to Westminster Council.
Mejri admitted guilt to two counts of fraud and two counts of failing to report changes in circumstances. Judge Baumgartner, during sentencing, described Mejri as a “thoroughly dishonest individual who took advantage of others’ innocence and misfortune.”
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western condemned Mejri’s actions as a “shocking and premeditated fraud” that exploited public systems and attempted to profit from the tragedy of Grenfell.
Senior crown prosecutor Richard Powell criticized Mejri, stating that his actions diverted significant funds away from those genuinely in need of support and financial assistance.
