TIME TO GO
Convicted and jailed benefit fraudster still hangs on to Tower Hamlets Council Seat
Shelina Akhtar is a twice convicted benefit fraudster. In May 2010 she was elected to Tower Hamlets, giving an address in Spitalfields on her nomination papers. In fact she was actually the tenant of a property in Blackwall Way, which she was illegally subletting for £1,000 per month. Shortly after her election, when she used the name Akhtar, she instructed officers to change official documents to Aktar. This was just before she was first convicted for the first time under the name of Akhtar.
Rarely seen and never heard she claims to spend much time on “Mayoral engagements” with Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman. Last year she was one of the councillors that ensured his budget was passed by council.
Every week councillors undertaking their surgeries hear positively harrowing cases and submit enquiries on behalf of residents who need re-housing. I have lost count of life long residents from the Isle of Dogs who are told there is no hope for them to be housed and to look elsewhere. What should they, or the rest of us, think about Shelina Akhtar (Aktar) ?
Here we have a single woman, aged 30 when she was housed in a brand new development on Blackwall Way, who then moved back with her mother and illegally sublet this same property. The fact that she has contacts within the political leadership of this council makes it even worse.
She has now faced two trials and been convicted twice for fraud.
She has been sentenced to four months imprisonment, yet she refuses to resign and can continue to collect her £10,000 per year councillor’s payment from law abiding taxpayers.
Normally when a councillor is given three months or more, their seat is declared vacant and voters have the opportunity to elect a new member.
Cllr Akhtar is considering appealing against the sentence and so continues to sit as a councillor – at least until the appeal. Of course, if she does appeal the Judge may consider four months is too lenient and increase the tariff.
She should go and go now!
Councillor Peter Golds
Tower Hamlets Councillor and ward member for Blackwall Way