Woman jailed for £50k benefit claim – despite home in Madeira

Friday 13 September 2024

A 51-year-old woman who failed to disclose two bank accounts, a £50,000 gift and part-ownership of a property in Madeira has been jailed for fraudulently claiming almost £50,000 in benefits.

Prosecutors yesterday described Ligia Maria Nobrega Rodrigues’ actions over a nearly eight-and-a-half-year period as a “substantial” fraud which was “an affront to all those who pay their contributions”.

Her first deceptive action was in April 2011, when she gave incorrect information on a form submitted to the Social Security Department, the Royal Court heard on Friday.

Despite warnings on the form that failure to disclose all bank accounts, assets and properties was a criminal offence which may lead to prosecution, Rodrigues did not share that she part-owned a property in Madeira and had money in accounts with both Lloyds Bank and HSBC. 

In fact, Rodrigues was said to have “put a line” through the entire section on property and wrote “none”.

Pictured: Rodrigues was sentenced in the Royal Court on Friday.

An investigation into her affairs was opened following a tip in November 2019, and she was asked the following month to confirm if she had any property, other income or accounts. She replied “no” to all.

When questioned in March 2022 by Customer and Local Services, she explained that she had a property with her ex-husband but that when they split, he kept the property and she received nothing. She also explained that her current boyfriend had bought a property in Madeira but put her name on the property documents, even though she didn’t pay.

Bank statements from an account she had never declared showed that she had a property and mortgage against it.

Upon review of statements from a different bank, it was noted that on 11 September 2019, whilst the Defendant was still receiving IS benefit payments, there was a transfer of £25,000 into this account. 

This £25,000 was then immediately transferred out to an account held in the name of another woman.

In October 2022, during another meeting with CLS, she admitted that she had received a letter and cheque from a now-deceased friend of £50,000, which was intended to support her child’s education.

The court heard that Rodrigues went on to state that, after depositing the £50,000 cheque into her account, she transferred it into her child’s savings account, then transferred £25,000 to her sister, stating that it was needed urgently in Maderia. The sister then transferred £25,000 to the Rodriues’ boyfriend so that he could purchase a house in Maderia. 

The Royal Court was told that there were “countless” opportunities for her to tell the truth, but that she did not do so.

Throughout the time she was claiming, she was also sent 11 letters which reminded her about the importance of reporting changes in her circumstances. Occasionally, she did – such as not receiving child maintenance or the start of self-employment – but did not provide information about her assets.

In late 2019, she asked for her IS claim to close because her “business was getting better” and that her ex-husband would assist financially if she or her child were “struggling financially”.

In March 2023, all the evidence gathered in the case was handed to an officer who determined that there had been an overpayment of £49,155.20.

When she was provided the overpayment letter at an in-person meeting, she “became angry” and said she “knew people in Government and would get them involved”. However, by May 2023, she decided to sign an agreement to repay in instalments of £500 per month.

At a later police interview under caution, she gave a series of “no comment” answers.

Crown Advocate Luke Sette explained that she appeared to show little remorse – even yawning during an interview with police.

Pictured: Rodrigues yawned during formal questioning.

He called for a prison sentence of 16 months.

Her lawyer, Advocate Giles Emmanuel, defending, denied that was the case.

Noting that she was of previous good character, and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, he said: “She fully understands the severity of the offence. She accepts responsibility for her actions and is remorseful.”

He added that Rodrigues had already paid back £7,500 of the money in instalments of £500 per month, and argued that, if she was spared jail, she could go on working in order to pay back the remainder.

But Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq said the sitting Jurats – Jane Ronge and Karen Le Cornu –  “cannot see any exceptional circumstances” and would be accepting Crown Advocate Sette’s recommendation.

Rodrigues wept as he told her: “This was a serious, prolonged offence, the victims of which are the public of the island and all those who pay their taxes.”