Britain: A crooked registrar faces a lengthy jail sentence after being found guilty of issuing false birth certificates to a gang of African fraudsters who stole at least £4 million from taxpayers over 20 years

Azu Akpom provided fake certificates to the ringleader of the gang who went on to create false identities for up to 100 children to milk the benefits system. Croydon Crown Court heard how the Nigerian-born father of three was ultimately trapped by a text message which, despite his denial, showed that he knew the gang’s chief conspirator, Ugandan-born Ruth Nabuguzi, 49. In 2012, the same court heard how she was at the center of the scam which also saw her claim to be suffering from HIV and needing costly drugs – yet in reality she sent them back to Uganda to be sold for huge profits. Supplying the drugs for so many years cost the taxpayer more than £2 million. The gang exploited false identities in the fraud relating to accommodation and sub-letting of flats at a cost of £650,000, and various benefits totaling £900,000.