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A wrestling benefits fraudster who claimed he was so disabled he had to eat mixed food with a straw, has been jailed along with his mother for defrauding £ 51,000 in false claims.
Mother and son, Khalida Zarif, 51, and Sakib Zarif, 33, of Lancashire, were jailed last week after they were caught grossly exaggerating disabilities to claim benefits.
Mr. Zarif received a 15-month sentence for conspiracy to defraud, while Ms. Zarif was jailed for 12 months following a police investigation that exposed her “disability” claims.
The family, who live together in a large house on Preston New Road, Blackburn, have a portfolio of properties in the area.
Each of them drove expensive, high-performance cars, such as BMW or Mercedes Benz.
They were accused of “making fun” of the benefit system and of those who deserve disability payments for “real reasons”.
In February 2019, concerns were raised about the possible exploitation of some of the Zarif’s tenants, prompting the Lancashire Police and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch a joint investigation.
During the investigation, Mr. Zarif was caught on video dancing and wrestling with his arms, despite saying he was in so much physical pain, particularly in his left arm, that he could not use silverware to eat.
Mother and son, Khalida Zarif, 51, and Sakib Zarif, 33, (pictured) from Lancashire were jailed last week after they were caught swindling £ 51,000 in grossly exaggerated disability benefit claims following a police investigation.
During the investigation, Mr. Zarif was caught on arm wrestling video, despite saying that he was in so much physical pain, particularly in his left arm, that he had to eat mixed food with a straw.
His 51-year-old mother, who was on a high rate of disability payments for many years, claimed that she had to crawl, wear a zimmer frame, or be pushed in a wheelchair because she could not walk properly.
However, while under police surveillance, she was seen many times lifting heavy items, including shopping bags, and walking unaided.
Mr. Zarif’s sentence also includes a robbery charge, as he was found to have stolen money from a bank account of the deceased.
The police investigation revealed that in October 2018, one of Zarif’s tenants had died, but someone continued to withdraw the man’s benefits.
Sakib Zarif’s vehicle was seen in the vicinity of the ATMs from which the money was taken and the man’s PIN code was found on Mr. Zarif’s phone when it was seized by the police.
In all, more than £ 1,650 had been withdrawn from the deceased’s bank account.
Detectives discovered that Sakib played a key role in the conspiracy and he, along with his mother Khalida, greatly exaggerated the illnesses and disabilities to claim the associated benefits.
When requesting disability payments in August 2016 and April 2019, Sakib Zarif claimed that after an assault in 2015, in which he was the victim, he was unable to prepare meals himself and had to eat food mixed with a straw.
He also claimed that he depended on his parents for help, that he was not motivated to take care of himself or his personal hygiene, and needed direction to clean or change clothes.
The 33-year-old, who was filmed dancing at a wedding, claimed he was so disabled after an assault in 2015 that he relied on his parents for help.
The 33-year-old also claimed to be in a lot of physical pain, particularly in his left arm, which means he couldn’t drive and couldn’t use silverware to eat.
However, this was found to be in stark contrast to his muscular appearance and demeanor attested during research in 2019.
In one incident, he was caught carrying a boy with his left arm, participating in a wrestling competition, driving regularly, and exercising in the gym, all while using his left arm.
His flagrant dishonesty led to him being overpaid £ 13,502 by the DWP.
On 2 July 2018, a BMW 320 worth £ 37,000 was delivered and was in the name of one of the families’ tenants.
The tenant had obtained the car while legally claiming disability benefits as part of the mobility plan.
A down payment of £ 2,749 was made on the car in May 2018 and Sakib was found to be driving it regularly. Police believe the true owner of the vehicle never drove it.
When Sakib was arrested on March 28, 2019, boxing and baseball equipment was found in the trunk of the BMW, suggesting he was more physically active than he said in his application for benefits, as well as debit cards and PIN numbers. that did not belong to him or his family.
His mother, Khalida Zarif, had testified in her 2015 claim for disability benefits, she had suffered from a variety of medical conditions, including mental illness, very severe back pain causing reduced mobility, vertigo and fainting spells, severe arthritis and stiff joints, a heart problem and diabetes.
She stated that this meant that she was not safe in the kitchen and needed help preparing a simple meal; simple tasks, such as washing dishes, had forced him to need hospital treatment; She needed adapted cutlery, as well as help with eating, drinking and dressing.
Khalida Zarif, 51, (pictured) claimed that she had to crawl or be pushed in a wheelchair because she could not walk properly. However, while under police surveillance, she was seen many times lifting heavy items, including shopping bags, and walking unaided.
Ms. Zarif stated that she had to seek help with washing and was not concerned about her personal hygiene; unable to mingle or socialize with others due to severe anxiety; had to crawl, wear a zimmer frame, or be pushed around in a wheelchair because she could not walk properly; he was easily confused; She needed family members to help her communicate and her eyes were always watery, which means she couldn’t read.
The police investigation in 2019 found that many of these claims you made on your 2015 application for disability benefits were no longer true.
During surveillance in February 2019, she was seen many times lifting heavy items, including shopping bags, walking unaided, driving a Mercedes, and going to the bank, conducting financial transactions.
Additionally, Ms Zarif was seen watering plants and carrying large pots in her garden, picking up a wooden bird table she had knocked over, as well as putting a child on swings and pulling him out of a car.
The Employment Center staff stated that Ms. Zarif visited her regularly to fill out forms so that tenants could pay the rent, she said she was always clean and elegantly dressed.
In all, they overpaid him nearly £ 24,000.
Faisal Zarif, another of Ms Zarif’s children, claimed the assignment of caregiver for his mother and another relative in June 2007 even though they did not require the level of care they claimed.
It also revealed earnings that exceeded the amount allowed to be able to claim the caregiver allowance. They overpaid him almost £ 11,425.
Ms Zarif’s youngest son, Atif, claimed that he cared for his brother, Sakib, for at least 35 hours a week, which was false, and also received over £ 2,500 in associated benefits.
In all, the total of the family hoax amounted to more than £ 51,000 in benefit payments. The officer leading the investigation, Blackburn Police Detective Sgt. Stu Peall, said the Zarif family was motivated by “sheer greed” and hoped the case would serve as a warning to other “greedy scammers.” (In the photo: Sakib Zarif dancing)
In all, the total deception by the family amounted to more than £ 51,000 in benefit payments.
As part of the Zarif’s conviction, the money is being returned.
The officer leading the investigation, Blackburn Police Detective Sgt. Stu Peall, said the Zarif family was motivated by “sheer greed” and hoped the case would serve as a warning to other “greedy scammers.”
He said: ‘The Zarif, particularly Sakib and his mother Khalida, were motivated by sheer greed, telling lies or not updating the DWP in order to get money they were not entitled to.
‘These people, through their sheer dishonesty, have mocked the claims of real and deserving benefits made by those who require and are entitled to the help of these payments, for genuine reasons.
‘I hope this case serves as a warning to other greedy scammers, who, through their lies and exaggerations, are taking money from the system that is there to help those in need. They will be found, no matter how many years they think you’ve had your way.
