A man was sentenced to 42 months in jail after using false credentials to secure a flat near Grenfell Tower and attempting to access funds designated for survivors of the 2017 fire. Adam Mejri, 47, wept in court as he was found guilty of multiple fraudulent activities.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions, Mejri unlawfully obtained over £160,000 in benefits and council aid. This sum included more than £52,000 in deceitful employment support allowance claims, approximately £107,000 in housing benefits, and £4,000 in local council tax relief.
Prosecutors revealed that Mejri made several attempts to claim a £5,000 support fund intended for individuals impacted by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In one instance in March 2018, he falsely presented himself as the tenant of an unoccupied apartment in proximity to the tower. Despite his efforts, suspicions arose regarding his identity, preventing him from receiving the compensation.
Moreover, Mejri redirected the genuine tenant’s mail to alternate addresses and unlawfully sublet the flat for £1,200 per month. In July 2019, he purportedly exploited the same false identity to seek universal credit benefits.
Authorities discovered that Mejri was simultaneously receiving ESA and housing benefits while profiting from subletting two additional properties in Westminster. He failed to disclose this additional income to Westminster Council.
Mejri pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of withholding information about his circumstances. Judge Baumgartner, during sentencing, denounced Mejri as a “thoroughly dishonest individual who took advantage of others’ misfortune.”
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western condemned Mejri’s actions as a “shocking and premeditated fraud” that exploited public assistance systems and attempted to capitalize on the Grenfell tragedy. Senior crown prosecutor Richard Powell criticized Mejri for diverting crucial financial aid from those genuinely in need.
