Rogue civil servant claimed more than £40,000 in fake expenses
A civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could face jail after raking in more than £41,000 in unauthorised expenses, a court heard.
Maurice Okello, 39, also admitted handing his employers a forged sick note to pocket more than £4,000 and travel abroad while signed off work.
The international policy adviser flew to places including Tampa, in Florida, Mexico City, Boston, the Greek island of Kos and Morocco under the guise of work travel. He also visited Brussels several times as well as the Swedish city of Gothenburg between December 2022 and September 2023.
Okello admitted two charges of fraud at Southwark Crown Court. The first charge of fraud by false representation stated he 'provided a forged statement of fitness to work to your employer claiming you were unfit for work, intending to make a gain, namely being paid your salary of £4,138.96 whilst on sick leave and travelling abroad during the sick leave period'.
Okello replied 'Guilty, yeah' when asked for his plea.
The second count of fraud by abuse of position stated he 'committed fraud in that, while occupying a position, namely policy adviser at the DWP in which you were expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of DWP, you dishonestly abused that position intending thereby to make a gain, namely £41,476.91 in unauthorised expenses'.
Okello admitted this charge too.
Warning him he could face a custodial sentence, Judge Christopher Hehir said: 'You have pleaded guilty to two serious offences.
'I am not going to sentence you today because the court needs a pre-sentence report to find out more about you and your circumstances, and the circumstances of these offences.
'You must understand the fact I've ordered a pre-sentence report and the fact I'm readmitting you to unconditional bail is no sort of promise, indication or guarantee of the sentence.
'All sentence options, including immediate custody will be open to the sentencing judge because these are serious matters involving a substantial breach of trust.'
Okello, of Harrow Weald, north-west London, will be sentenced on June 13.
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