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A representative in the Oslo City Council has been sentenced to nine months in prison for defrauding Nav of 760,000 crowns. The man confessed to the fraud in court.
Danny Chaudhry during one to Valgvake Folkeaksjonen to no more tolls in 2019. Photo: Monica Strømdahl
The man who has now been sentenced is Danny Chaudhry, 59, who sits as an independent representative on the Oslo City Council.
Between April 2014 and December 2016, Chaudhry received a total of NOK 762,000 in disability pension, disability benefits, and child supplement while working as a driving instructor at his own traffic school.
– Made with intention
– The fraud was committed with intent and unjustified gain by the accused. He knew that he was not entitled to these social security benefits and that he received them because he was not fulfilling his duty to provide information, the ruling of the Oslo District Court states.
In court, Danny Chaudhry made an unreserved confession. However, it is claimed that he first denied his criminal guilt in two police interrogations, before confessing. The confession was so close to trial that it could not be a case of confession.
According to the verdict, the case was revealed following the public’s advice on black sales to the chemist, with subsequent audit and notification to Nav.
– The whole case is based on the fact that the defendant had a significant volume of black cash, which he kept out of his accounts. The criminal affair lasted for a long period, almost two years, and was initially not easy to discover, says the verdict.
He was also accused of giving a false explanation in connection with the reports to Nav, but Chaudhry was acquitted at this point. The reason was that the court only believes that Chaudhry has failed to provide correct information and that therefore the matter is not affected by what the law calls a false explanation.
A politician from the Oslo city hall has been convicted in the Oslo District Court of defrauding Nav of NOK 760,000. Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB
– House of ropes
Danny Chaudhry’s defense attorney, Zulifqar Munir, will review the verdict with his client later Thursday.
– Immediately I think the sentence is strict, Munir tells NTB.
He points out that the case has had a long stay both in the police and in the administration. The verdict establishes that the case was registered with the police in November of last year, and that the first interrogation did not take place until July of this year.
– I believe that the length of stay has not been sufficiently taken into account in the judgment. I tried in court with a suspended sentence and at least expected a partial suspended sentence, says the defender.
He says he will now discuss with Chaudhry whether to appeal the verdict.
Long career in politics
Chaudhry has a long career in politics in Oslo and is currently an independent representative in the Oslo City Council.
He was elected by the Popular Action without further tolls during last year’s municipal elections, but resigned from the party shortly after. He was previously a politician in the Liberal Party, the Green Party and the Popular Socialist Party.
He did not sit on city council during the period the Nav scam was taking place.
