Crutch trips up barrister in migrant scam
POLICE GET SUSPICIOUS AS ID-FRAUD SUSPECT WAS KNOWN TO WALK WITH A LIMP
A BARRISTER has been given a suspended prison sentence for her role in an immigration scam - which was exposed when police spotted a CRUTCH in her living room.
Hamadalat Rafiu-Amusa, 39, from Rochdale, pleaded guilty to facilitating a breach of immigration law.
She was caught when police called at her home and noticed the crutch in the corner of the room. They knew that another person, who they suspected had used Rafiu-Amusa’s identity to get a job, walked with a limp.
But Rafiu-Amusa told officers the crutch belonged to a friend called ‘Silifat Wahab’ who sometimes looked after her children.
Police and immigration officers then left her home in Dover Street, but were suspicious and returned five minutes later.
When they returned the crutch had been moved - along with a pair of shoes that had been on the floor.
Rafiu-Amusa told officers she was alone in the house, but then admitted there was another woman upstairs.
Officers found Elizabeth Bello, who had disappeared after living in the UK illegally, sitting on a mattress.
At the time Rafiu-Amusa was working as a care worker in the NHS.
But she had qualified as a lawyer in Nigeria and at the University of Huddersfield gained a Bachelor of Law degree with Honours and a Masters degree in International Law.
At Manchester Crown Court Rafiu-Amusa was sentenced to 10 months prison, suspended for two years.
It was alleged she had allowed Bello to use her identity to gain employment.
She said Bello helped to look after her children and sometimes stayed overnight.
Bello is now in custody awaiting sentence for fraud by false representation.
Detective Sergeant Jeff Taylor, of GMP’s specialist Fraud Investigation Unit, said: “As a qualified barrister in Nigeria and the holder of a law degree and masters in international law, Hamdalat Rafiu Amusa was well aware of her criminal actions and the penalty such actions attract (maximum 14 years imprisonment).
“Despite her education and her standing within the Nigerian community Amusa proved to be a thoroughly dishonest person, constantly lying to investigators. She is very fortunate not to be spending time in prison.”