A FRAUDSTER council worker took money intended for ‘vulnerable’ asylum seekers and deposited it into his own bank account.
Skender Ademi, of Hen Lane in Coventry, was employed as a personal advisor on Warwickshire County Council’s Asylum and Leaver’s Team.
The 46-year-old worked with those seeking asylum in the county and young people aged 16 and over leaving the care system.
But between April last year and May this year while working in Warwick he took more than £4,300 of money intended to support four asylum seekers.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrates at Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington.
Ademi – who had worked in the position for 15 years – was given two 12 week concurrent sentences, suspended for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay nearly £4,500 in compensation and court costs.
Magistrates said the sentence was due to Ademi’s position of trust and the vulnerability of his victims.
A magistrate sitting in the court said: “You were expected to safeguard, not act against, the financial interest. You dishonestly abused that position intending thereby to make a gain, namely obtained for yourself.”
Warwickshire County Council has sacked the fraudster.
A spokesman told the Observer: “Following a reported suspicion, an investigation took place and identified the extent of the fraud, which was reported to the police, as Warwickshire County Council has a zero tolerance to fraud.
“The money will be recouped and go back into the council’s funds for social care.”
