A 51-YEAR-OLD woman who fraudulently claimed almost £50,000 in benefits – and yawned while being questioned by the police – wept in court yesterday as she was jailed for a year and four months.
The Royal Court heard that Ligia Maria Nobrega Rodrigues claimed income support payments to which she was not entitled for eight and a half years.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, said she had been claiming the weekly payments between April 2011 and September 2019, receiving a total of £49,155.
But she had not disclosed that she part-owned a property in Madeira and had money in accounts with both Lloyds Bank and HSBC. She also failed to disclose a one-off gift of £50,000.
“There were bank accounts and capital assets,” he said.
The fraud came to light in March 2023 and Rodrigues was arrested.
Crown Advocate Sette added: “She yawned during her police interview, which undermines any suggestion of remorse.
“This was a substantial benefit fraud, and is an affront to all those who pay their contributions.”
Citing similar previous cases, he recommended a prison sentence of 16 months.
Advocate Giles Emmanuel, defending, pointed out that Rodrigues was of previous good character and had pleaded guilty on her first appearance in the Magistrate’s Court.
He said: “She fully understands the severity of the offence. She accepts responsibility for her actions and is remorseful.”
He added that Rodrigues had already repaid £7,500 in instalments of £500 per month, and argued that if she was spared jail, she could go on working in order to pay back the remainder.
But the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said the Jurats had accepted the recommendation of Advocate Sette, saying they “cannot see any exceptional circumstances”.
Rodrigues wept as he told her: “This was a serious, prolonged offence, the victims of which are the public of the Island and all those who pay their taxes.”
The Jurats sitting were Jane Ronge and Karen Le Cornu.
